Israel has given instructions to relevant bodies to enable construction of a “Trump Town” in the holy occupied city of Jerusalem al-Quds that would be housing foreign embassies.
Israeli Construction Minister Yoav Gallant said in New York that he had instructed the top officials in his ministry to begin the process of planning and approving the new quarter, The Jerusalem Post said.
He had initially called it “Embassy Town,” but then said he might decide to name it after US President Donald Trump.
On December 6, Trump defied global warnings and said Washington formally recognized al-Quds as the “capital” of Israel and would begin the process of moving its embassy to the occupied city, breaking with decades of American policy.
Trump's declaration has sent shockwaves throughout the Muslim world and even prompted warnings from Washington’s allies in the West that it would bring more chaos to the region.
The United Nations General Assembly on December 21 overwhelmingly voted in favor of a resolution that calls on the US to withdraw its controversial recognition of Jerusalem al-Quds as the Israeli capital.
Washington, however, says the diplomatic mission will be relocated from Tel Aviv to al-Quds next month to coincide with the anniversary of the day in 1948 when Israel was proclaimed as an entity after a catastrophic war with Arab nations.
Only, the Czech Republic, Romania, and Honduras have so far said they would be moving in US footsteps.
Also on Thursday, Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila said she favored the embassy relocation, but she had insufficient backing at home for such a move.
"This is our wish, but unfortunately we do not have support from all parties as we would like," she said while meeting Israeli President Reuven Rivlin in Jerusalem al-Quds.
Sounding upbeat, however, Gallant claimed, “There is an apparent pattern of embassies moving to Jerusalem, and we have to start getting ready now.”
“We might have to build dozens of embassies, and we would need new land ready for that purpose. I asked my ministry to vigorously take action as fast as possible," he added.
While Israel lays claim to the whole city as its so-called “capital,” Palestinians have historically sought its eastern part as the capital of their future state.