British PM criticizes Trump for ‘unhelpful’ decision on Jerusalem

British Prime Minister Theresa May is criticizing President Trump for recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and making plans to move the U.S. Embassy there, calling it “unhelpful.”

“We disagree with the US decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem and recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital before a final status agreement,” May said in a statement Wednesday. 

“We believe it is unhelpful in terms of prospects for peace in the region. The British Embassy to Israel is based in Tel Aviv and we have no plans to move it,” she continued. 

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May’s comments come after Trump announced on Wednesday that the U.S. would officially start recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and move the U.S. embassy there from Tel Aviv.

“I have determined that it is time to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel,” Trump said in televised remarks. 

“This is nothing more or less than a recognition of reality. It’s also the right thing to do. It’s something that has to be done,” he continued. 

The decision broke from decades of American policy and divided the U.S. from the international community.

Israel has declared Jerusalem its capital, but the Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of a future independent state.

The move is likely to inflame tensions with Palestinians and much of the Arab world. Arab leaders in recent days urged Trump against the decision.

Congress passed a law in 1995 recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and calling for moving the U.S. Embassy to that city. Past administrations have signed waivers every six months to delay the move. U.S. policy has long held that the status of Jerusalem should be resolved in peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.