A cacophony of angry and despairing voices across the Middle East and the world have urged Donald Trump not to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel at a planned speech on Wednesday, warning him that any such announcement would destroy the peace process, strengthen the extremists and weaken the US’s standing in the world.

The Pope issued an unusually heartfelt plea to the president to respect the status quo on the city, and to conform with UN resolutions. He told thousands of people at his general audience: “I cannot keep quiet about my deep worry about the situation that has been created in the last few days.”

Pope Francis said he hoped “wisdom and prudence prevail, in order to avoid adding new elements of tension to a global panorama that is already convulsed and marked by so many cruel conflicts”.

The spokesman for the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, said the US was “plunging the region and the world into a fire with no end in sight”. He added that the Organisation for Islamic Co-operation would meet in Istanbul on 13 December in a special session to co-ordinate a response.

The Turkish foreign minister, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, disclosed he had told the US secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, that Washington was making a grave mistake, and the whole world was against the decision. Turkey has suggested it might cut diplomatic ties with Israel if the plan goes ahead.

British prime minister Theresa May said on Wednesday that she would call Trump about his proposed announcement.

“The status of Jerusalem should be determined as a negotiated settlement between the Israelis and the Palestinians and Jerusalem should be a shared capital,” she said.

Both Germany and France, fierce critics of the decision, updated travel advice to their citizens, warning of possible clashes in Israel and the occupied territories.

Trump is expected to declare formal recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel later on Wednesday, breaking with years of precedent and potentially leading to unpredictable consequences for the Middle East.

IAmAClaret wrote:I'm not sure how anyone, with a sane state of mind, can be upset about a building being built in a City. That's all it is.

It only signifies something if you want it too, IE. if you've had your mind warped by religion.

UpTheBeehole wrote:But Moffitt's alright with it.

Wonder why.

ClaretMoffitt wrote:Because I don't believe in submitting to the threats of religious nutjobs.

UpTheBeehole wrote:The biggest religious nutjob involved in all of this is Donald Trump, and he's hell-bent on getting as many of his countrymen killed as possible.

ElectroClaret wrote:Not in America's interests, so why do it? It's barmy.

ClaretMoffitt wrote:
If Israel ever gets wiped out, and replaced with an islamic caliphate, then you will really see what bloodshed means.

Bacchus wrote:The fallout will probably play right into Trump's hands though.

randomclaret2 wrote:Political analysis from thr character who describes women as "skanks" and "scrubbers "

ClaretMoffitt wrote:Perhaps he's not willing to live in constant submission of "Muslim fury" unlike every other western world leader.

IAmAClaret wrote:I'm not sure how anyone, with a sane state of mind, can be upset about a building being built in a City. That's all it is.

It only signifies something if you want it too, IE. if you've had your mind warped by religion.

Caballo wrote:Because he a is a fame whore and a massive bellsmash.

Corky wrote:I know this may be a contrary view, but wouldn't it have been nice if in 1948 the Palestinians had decided to bite the bullet and accept that the Jews should officially have there own homeland. After all they had already been living there in large numbers for many years and that nasty Mr Hitler had been trying to wipe them off the face of the earth. But no, they went down the route of confrontation. And where has that got them; nowhere.

Just think what there lives would be like now if they had welcomed Israel with an olive branch rather than the knife.

UpTheBeehole wrote:Imagine if another country decided that your house, your hometown and the surrounding area was to be taken off you and given to gypsies.

How would you feel?

UpTheBeehole wrote:Imagine if another country decided that your house, your hometown and the surrounding area was to be taken off you and given to gypsies.

How would you feel?

UpTheBeehole wrote:
Oh, and then the gypsies murdered your children for throwing stones at them

claretandy wrote:He triggers libtards on a daily basis, for that alone he has my support

houseboy wrote:For Israel to declare it as their capital will upset years of careful balance ...

randomclaret2 wrote:Hes an expert on everything...

keith1879 wrote:Just out of interest is there anyone else who, on seeing the word "libtard" in a post, instantly reaches certain (generally unfavourable) conclusions about the validity of the poster's opinions?

claretandy wrote:Triggered another one

UpTheBeehole wrote:Imagine if another country decided that your house, your hometown and the surrounding area was to be taken off you and given to gypsies.

How would you feel?

UpTheBeehole wrote:Imagine if another country decided that your house, your hometown and the surrounding area was to be taken off you and given to gypsies.

How would you feel?

Corky wrote:I know this may be a contrary view, but wouldn't it have been nice if in 1948 the Palestinians had decided to bite the bullet and accept that the Jews should officially have there own homeland. After all they had already been living there in large numbers for many years and that nasty Mr Hitler had been trying to wipe them off the face of the earth. But no, they went down the route of confrontation. And where has that got them; nowhere.

Just think what there lives would be like now if they had welcomed Israel with an olive branch rather than the knife.

keith1879 wrote:Leaving out the "gypsies" reference this is pretty much what seemed to happen when the state of Israel was created. The trouble is that the intention was a good one with millions of homeless persecuted Jewish people being pushed from pillar to post - but it must have seemed manifestly unfair to the existing dwellers in the area. Of course such non-binary opinions have no place on the internet so lets just stick to the usual thoughtless name-calling and have done with it.

Burnley Ace wrote:Gypsies is an apt reference as Hitler persecuted and they were also included in the Final Solution.

randomclaret2 wrote:Political analysis from thr character who describes women as "skanks" and "scrubbers "