Israeli police took control of protesters in East Jerusalem December 9, 2017.

Clashes have broken out since Trump announced his decision on Jerusalem. In East Jerusalem, at least 1,400 Palestinians have been injured in clashes with Israeli security forces.

Widespread demonstrations

Israeli security forces have used tear gas and smoke grenades to disperse Palestinian demonstrators shouting slogans calling Jerusalem the eternal capital of Palestine. Tensions surged when an Israeli security guard was stabbed in East Jerusalem on Sunday.

Thousands of protestors in Bethlehem city in the West Bank decried the US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Demonstrations occurred not only in Muslim countries which sympathize with Palestine, but also among US allies. Some 2,500 people gathered outside the US Embassy in Germany on Sunday to protest Washington’s decision. Israel flags were burned promptly the German government to call for restraint. Libyan police fired tear gas and water cannons at demonstrators near the US Embassy in Beirut. Similar demonstrations took place in Indonesia, Morocco, Turkey, Egypt and the Palestinian territories.

Middle East on the verge of a violent backlash

President Trump’s move has widened divisions between Middle Eastern countries. Turkey has cut diplomatic ties with Israel and called an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul on Wednesday.  Palestinian President Mamoud Abbas said US Vice President Mike Pence will not be welcome in the Middle East and no dialogue will be held during his coming visit. Palestine will find a new peace mediator to replace the US and seek a UN resolution on Jerusalem.

Diplomatic efforts are being made to ease the Israel-Palestine dispute. French President Emmanuel Macron urged President Netanyahu to stop building settlements and take bold actions to ease the crisis.