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Iran has strongly condemned Washington's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Its foreign ministry said: "America's provocative and unwise decision to recognise Quds [Jerusalem] as the capital of the Zionist regime will not help peace and stability in the region. Furthermore, it exposes America's evil intention and will discredit it more than ever before, especially before the parties which still believe in this country's impartiality in illusory peace talks. This decision will provoke Muslims and will fan the flames of a new 'intifada' [Palestinian uprising] and will intensify extremism and wrathful and violent behaviours for which this country and the Zionist regime should be held responsible."

The statement, carried on the official Irna news agency condemns the US decision as a "utter violation" of UN resolutions which describe Jerusalem as an "occupied" city.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran strongly condemns the measure taken by America and, for the sake of protecting stability in the region, asks all international bodies and influential states, especially Islamic countries, to impede the implementation of this measure, which only benefits the Zionist regime," the statement adds.

The Republican Jewish Coalition have thanked Donald Trump for fulfilling a campaign promise to move the capital to Jerusalem.

The group is backed by Republican mega-donor Sheldon Adelson, who had donated $25 million to Trump's presidential campaign.

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US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, the country's top diplomatic representative, has said in a statement that the US "will immediately begin the process to implement" Trump's plan to move the embassy to Jerusalem.

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The world through its media

The Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement chief Ismail Haniya has issued a strong warning tonight, Palestinian media report. "Haniya warned of the serious repercussions of this decision which constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and a dangerous escalation that will drag the region into a new phase of conflict," the pro-Hamas Palestinian Information Centre says.

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The US ambassador to Israel, and the Israeli ambassador to the US, have both voiced their pleasure with the US decision on social media.

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Amnesty International, a prominent civil-rights group, have added their voices to a chorus of liberal condemnation.

"With this move, the United States is violating its own international legal obligations not to recognise or assist an illegal situation and to ensure respect for the Geneva Conventions," they say.

"No country in the world recognises Israel’s annexation of East Jerusalem, making the decision to confer US recognition deeply troubling.

"Not only does this decision contribute to undermining the international rule of law, it also shows a total disregard for mass human rights violations that Palestinians are facing as a result of Israel’s annexation policies."

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"Trump has isolated himself," Mustafa Barghouti, general secretary of the Palestinian National Initiative, tells the BBC. Other nations are lining up to criticise the US president and Barghouti is confident "they will do something about it".

"We are not worried... Our hands are free now to take measures such as taking Israel to the International Criminal Court... We will not accept what he did, we will stand up [for] our rights in Jerusalem," he says.

Asked whether the move must have been nodded through by such regional powers as Saudi Arabia, he adds: "Any Arab leader... that dares to support what Mr Trump has announced will pay a very high price in front of his people."

The President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, has condemned Mr Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, saying it is "tantamount to the US abdicating its role as peace mediator".

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"This decision is a regrettable decision that France does not approve of and goes against international law and all the resolutions of the UN Security Council," French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters in Algiers.

"Egypt rejects the US decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem," the country's foreign ministry said in a brief statement.

The US editor for Israeli newspaper Haaretz says on his Twitter feed that Trump deserves credit for at least getting the Israeli-Palestinian conflict back into the headlines.

Image source, AFP

Further to Netanyahu's earlier comments, the Israeli Prime Minister adds: "This decision reflects the president's commitment to an ancient but enduring truth, to fulfilling his promises and to advancing peace.

"The president's decision is an important step towards peace, for there is no peace that doesn't include Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel.

"I share President Trump's commitment to advancing peace between Israel and all of our neighbours, including the Palestinians... I call on all countries that seek peace to join the United States in recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital and to move their embassies here.

"I also want to make clear: there will be no change whatsoever to the status quo at the holy sites... Israel will always ensure freedom of worship for Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike. President Trump, thank you for today's historic decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital."

Israeli UN Ambassador Danny Danon says in a prepared statement: "We welcome this courageous decision by President Trump.

"In 1948, President Truman was the first world leader to recognise the State of Israel and today President Trump righted an historic wrong by recognising Jerusalem as our capital.

"Now is the time for all UN member states to follow the lead of our American friends and recognise our ancient capital of Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel."

On Twitter, the terms "Israel and the Palestinians" and "Jerusalem" are trending in the US.

Many fear that the US announcement will drastically inflame tensions in the region.