“Trump will recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel next week” (US official)

US President Donald Trump visits the Western Wall, the holiest site where Jews can pray, in Jerusalem's Old City on May 22, 2017 MANDEL NGAN (AFP)

The US president is expected to deliver a speech on Wednesday

President Donald Trump is expected to deliver a speech on Wednesday declaring Jerusalem the “indivisible” capital of Israel, a senior US administration official told the news agency on Friday. to Reuters.

The White House had informed its embassies on Thursday that she was preparing to declare Jerusalem the “indivisible capital” of Israel, reported the Wall Street Journal.

Quoting US officials, the daily mentioned that the project is not yet final, but that the “official announcement could be made as early as next week”.

The White House, however, on Wednesday deemed "premature" the information that the United States was preparing to announce the transfer of its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Donald Trump's election promise.

“This is premature information. We have nothing to announce,” executive spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said.

Israel's Hadashot Channel (formerly Channel 2) reported on Tuesday that the Israeli government believed it was "highly likely" that President Trump would declare recognition of Jerusalem as the official (Israeli) capital in the coming days and announce "the start of preparations for the transfer of the embassy”, citing sources within the state apparatus.

“Trump does not want to sign the decree of renunciation and is under strong pressure from evangelicals, so he is not waiting for the diplomatic plan,” added a journalist from the chain on Twitter.

On October 7, Donald Trump indicated that, contrary to one of his campaign promises, the American embassy in Israel would not be moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem before attempting to relaunch the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

“I want to give this process a chance” before thinking about moving the embassy to Jerusalem,” Donald Trump said during a television broadcast. “We will make a decision in the not too distant future,” he said.