Tipsheet

Right on Cue: Palestinians Plan Days of Rage Over Embassy Move

Yesterday the White House officially announced plans to move the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, officially recognizing the Holy City as the capitol of Israel. 

President Trump, like Presidents Clinton, Obama and Bush before him, promised to make the move on the campaign trail. In response, Israel's neighboring Arab countries have condemned the move and argue it threatens a stalled so-called peace process with the Palestinians. The international community is up in arms over the announcement. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has been making frantic phone calls asking for support against the declaration, calling it unacceptable. 

But in typical fashion Palestinians, led by Hamas, have planned a weekend of rage in response to the Jerusalem announcement. 

Terror group Hamas is calling for a “day of rage” Friday, urging Palestinians to protest President Donald Trump’s plan to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move the U.S. Embassy there from Tel Aviv.

The group, designated a terrorist organization by the U.S., encouraged Palestinians in an official Arabic statement to send a message “with all available means” to Israel after the upcoming Friday prayers.

It added that making Jerusalem the Israeli capital was crossing a “red line.”

We call on the people of Palestine to declare ‘rage day’ on Friday against Israel, denying the U.S. plan to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital,” the statement read.

It added: "The youth and the Palestinian resistance in the West Bank need to respond with all means available to the U.S. decision that harms our Jerusalem. Jerusalem is a red line and the resistance will not allow any desecration of it.”

Rioting started in Bethlehem Tuesday, where Palestinians burned the American flag and photos of President Trump.

President Trump will make his official announcement about the move at 1 p.m. Wednesday from the White House.