Israeli officials rushed to welcome the next president of the United States on Friday, as Donald Trump prepared to be sworn in at noon, while reports emerged that the defense establishment has been planning for potentially violent fallout if the new administration makes good on the pledge to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted his congratulations to “President Trump” a little prematurely — several hours before the president-elect was scheduled to officially assume the title following his inauguration in Washington, D.C
Members of the Israeli government have been vocally supportive of the plan to move the embassy, which Trump vowed to do while on the campaign trail and after his victory in November.
The politically charged move has, however, caused outrage among Palestinians who see part of Jerusalem as their future capital, and it was on Thursday indirectly condemned by foreign ministers from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
“Congrats to my friend President Trump,” Netanyahu wrote Friday on Twitter. “Look fwd to working closely with you to make the alliance between Israel&USA stronger than ever.” READ MORE
