The United States officially moved its Israeli embassy from the city of Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on Monday. The move came as Israeli forces and Palestinians clashed along Israel’s border with the Gaza Strip. More than 50 Palestinians were killed and hundreds more were wounded.

Within 100 kilometers of the violence, American and Israeli officials gathered in Jerusalem for the opening of the new embassy.

Late last year, American President Donald Trump rejected long-standing U.S. policy that placed the embassy in Tel Aviv. The United States has now become the only country with its Israeli diplomatic headquarters in Jerusalem.

Palestinian protesters run for cover from teargas fired by Israeli troops near the Israeli border fence, east of Khan Younis, in the Gaza Strip, May 14, 2018.

Palestinian protesters run for cover from teargas fired by Israeli troops near the Israeli border fence, east of Khan Younis, in the Gaza Strip, May 14, 2018.

Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner, both advisers to the president, attended the opening ceremonies. “While presidents before him have backed down from their pledge to move the American Embassy once in office, this president delivered. Because when President Trump makes a promise, he keeps it.”

He added that the Palestinians protesting in Gaza were, in his words, “part of the problem, and not part of the solution.”

Aliqismet BADALOV,
“Khalq qazeti”