U.S. embassy to open in Jerusalem in May

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday hailed the U.S. announcement that it would move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in May as "a great day for the people of Israel."

"President Trump's decision to move the United States Embassy to Jerusalem on the coming Independence Day follows his historic declaration in December to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital," a statement issued by the Israeli Embassy in Washingtonsaid in Hebrew.

The U.S. state department announcedearlier Friday that it would moveits embassy in May amove that reverses decades of U.S. policy and isbound to trouble U.S. allies who have already objected.

Trump announced last December that the U.S. recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital, infuriating even Washington's Arab allies and dismaying Palestinians who want the eastern part of the city as their capital.

No other country has recognized Jerusalem as Israel'scapital and Trump's decision has sown discord between the U.S. and the European Union over Middle East peace efforts.

"We are excited about taking this historic step, and lookforward with anticipation to the May opening," U.S. StateDepartment spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement, noting that it willcoincide with Israel's 70th anniversary.

The embassy in Jerusalem will be gradually expanded inexisting consular facilities in the Arnona neighbourhood, whilethe search for a permanent site has already begun for whatNauert called a "longer-term undertaking."

The interim embassy will have office space for the ambassador and a small staff and, by the end of 2019, a new embassy annex on the Arnona compound will be opened, Nauert said.

The consulate in East Jerusalem will continue to servePalestinians. For security reasons, U.S. Ambassador DavidFriedman will continue living in the residence in Herzliya,north of Tel Aviv, and commute to the relocated embassy, anotherofficial said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

A May opening is earlier than expected U.S. Vice PresidentMike Pence told the Israeli parliament last month that the movewould take place by the end of 2019.

Palestinians reacted to the news with anger.

"This is an unacceptable step. Any unilateral move will notgive legitimacy to anyone and will be an obstacle to any effortto create peace in the region," said Nabil Abu Rdainah, aspokesman for the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, who isin the U.S. until Saturday.

An Israeli government source said Prime Minister BenjaminNetanyahu, who is scheduled to visit the White House on March 5,is in contact with the Trump administration and would respondwhen the U.S. makes an announcement.

In a speech on Friday to a gathering of conservatives insuburban Washington, Trump recalled his controversial decision,saying he withstood enormous pressure to make the move.

"I put the word out that I may do it. I was hit by morecountries and more pressure and more people calling, begging me , 'Don't do it. Don't do it. Don't do it,'" Trump said.

"I said we have to do it. It's the right thing to do. It'sthe right thing to do, we have to do it. And I did it."

Clashes erupted in Gaza and the West Bank earlier on Friday,in a weekly protest against Trump's stance on Jerusalem.

Palestinian health officials have said at least 20Palestinians, most of them in Gaza, have been killed in protestsagainst Trump's decision since the Dec. 6 announcement.