Donald Trump helps open Jerusalem embassy as 41 Palestinians die and 1,300 are wounded

Donald Trump helped open the newly-relocated US Embassy in Jerusalem via video link as Israeli snipers killed at least 41 Palestinian protesters and injured 1,300. In a pre-recorded video played to a crowd of 800 guests Monday, the president said: ‘Today we officially opened the United States embassy in Jerusalem. ‘Congratulations.

It’s been a long time coming…’ Mr Trump added that Jerusalem was ‘so important’ to Jewish people, adding: ‘Today Jerusalem is the seat of Israel’s government, it is the home of the Israeli legislature, and Israel’s supreme court, and the Israeli prime minister and president.’

He spoke as his daughter and adviser Ivanka removed a sheet covering the new building’s sign to declare it officially open.

Donald Trump helps open Jerusalem embassy as 41 Palestinians die

Her husband Jared Kushner – also a Trump adviser – took to the stage to hail his father-in-law’s decisiveness in finally enacting a 1995 law ordering that the embassy be moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Previous presidents refused to do so, fearing it could destabilize peace talks in the region. The glitzy ceremony came amid huge clashes between Palestinian protesters furious at the ‘annexation’ of East Jerusalem and Israeli security forces, with 41 shot dead by snipers and a further 1,300 people injured.

Those killed in the worst day of bloodshed in the region since 2014 include a 14 year-old protester, with around 40,000 believed to have turned up to protest. Despite the huge crowds, Brigadier General Ronen Manelis said the number would be seen as a ‘failure’ for Palestinian terror group Hamas.

A Palestinian carries a demonstrator injured during clashes with Israeli forces near the border between the Gaza strip and Israel east of Gaza City on May 14, 2018, during a demonstration on the day of the US embassy move to Jerusalem. The US moves its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem later Monday after months of global outcry, Palestinian anger and exuberant praise from Israelis over President Donald Trump's decision tossing aside decades of precedent. There are concerns that the Gaza protests less than 100 kilometres (60 miles) away will turn deadly if Palestinians attempt to damage or cross the fence with Israeli snipers positioned on the other side. / AFP PHOTO / MAHMUD HAMSMAHMUD HAMS/AFP/Getty Images

A Palestinian holds his national flag in the smoke billowing from burning tyres during clashes with Israeli forces near the border between the Gaza strip and Israel east of Gaza City on May 14, 2018, as Palestinians protest over the inauguration of the US embassy following its controversial move to Jerusalem. At least twenty-eight Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire on May 14 as tens of thousands protested and clashes erupted along the Gaza border against the US transfer of its embassy to Jerusalem, the Gazan health ministry said. It was the deadliest day in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since a 2014 war between the Jewish state and Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas. / AFP PHOTO / Thomas COEXTHOMAS COEX/AFP/Getty Images

Israelis hold American and Israeli flags with the new U.S. embassy in the background in Jerusalem, Monday, May 14, 2018. Israel prepared for the festive inauguration of a new U.S. Embassy in contested Jerusalem. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)

TOPSHOT - Palestinians clash with with Israeli forces near the border between the Gaza strip and Israel east of Gaza City on May 14, 2018, as Palestinians protest over the inauguration of the US embassy following its controversial move to Jerusalem. Dozens of Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire on May 14 as tens of thousands protested and clashes erupted along the Gaza border against the US transfer of its embassy to Jerusalem, after months of global outcry, Palestinian anger and exuberant praise from Israelis over President Donald Trump's decision tossing aside decades of precedent. / AFP PHOTO / MAHMUD HAMSMAHMUD HAMS/AFP/Getty Images

epaselect epa06735601 A Palestinian demonstrator throws a stone during a protest against the US Embassy move to Jerusalem and ahead of the 70th anniversary of Nakba, at the Gaza-Israeli border, in Abu Safia, Gaza Strip, 14 May 2018. Palestinians are marking the Nakba Day, or the day of the disaster, when more than 700 thousand Palestinians were forcefully expelled from their villages during the war that led to the creation of the state of Israel on 15 May 1948. Protesters call for the right of Palestinians to return to their homeland. EPA/LUCA PIERGIOVANNI

epa06735826 Palestinian demonstrators seek cover during a protest against the US Embassy move to Jerusalem and ahead of the 70th anniversary of Nakba, at Qalandya checkpoint near the West Bank City of Ramallah, 14 May 2018. According to media reports, at least 37 Palestinians were killed and more than 1600 wounded during clashes in Gaza-Israeli border during clashes against the US embassy move to Jerusalem as well as marking Nakba Day. Palestinians are marking the Nakba Day, or the day of the disaster, when more than 700 thousand Palestinians were forcefully expelled from their villages during the war that led to the creation of the state of Israel on 15 May 1948. Protesters call for the right of Palestinians to return to their homeland. EPA/ALAA BADARNEH

epa06735863 Palestinians protesters run for cover from Israeli tear-gas during clashes after protests near the border with Israel in the east of Gaza Strip, 14 May 2018. According to media reports, at least 41 Palestinians were killed and more than 1800 wounded during clashes in Gaza-Israeli border during clashes against the US embassy move to Jerusalem as well as marking Nakba Day. Palestinians are marking the Nakba Day, or the day of the disaster, when more than 700 thousand Palestinians were forcefully expelled from their villages during the war that led to the creation of the state of Israel on 15 May 1948. Protesters call for the right of Palestinians to return to their homeland. EPA/MOHAMMED SABER

The relocation also sparked a call from al-Qaeda boss Ayman al-Zawahiri for followers to carry out Jihadist attacks against the US.

Trump ordered the building’s move last December. It caused controversy because of Jerusalem’s highly sensitive status as a holy city for Christians, Jews and Muslims.

He insists that doing so will finally shift focus away from this issue and help move peace talks between Israel and Palestine forward.

UN rights experts have urged Israeli forces to stop using excessive force against Palestinian protesters, with an 18 member committee saying it was ‘gravely concerned that many of the persons who died or were injured were reportedly posing no imminent threat at the time they were shot.’