Defying dire, worldwide warnings, President Donald Trump on Wednesday broke with decades of U.S. and international policy by recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Trump also directed that the State Department begin the process of moving the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem as required by U.S. law. Officials said, however, that the move will take years to complete.

His announcement today to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital will have major repercussions, since the Palestinian Authority hopes that East Jerusalem will one day be the capital of a future Palestinian state. Some foreign policy experts have said that any pronouncement on the status of the volatile city of Jerusalem will bury a chance at peace in the region.

Some groups in Israel and the U.S. have welcomed the move, saying it’s a recognition of reality and a diplomatic tactic that might force otherwise stalled peace negotiations.

We listen to Trump’s address and debate the repercussions of his announcement.

With AP Files. 

Guests:

Miriam Elman, associate professor of political science and research director in the Program for the Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration at Syracuse University

Brian Katulis, senior fellow focusing on U.S. national security policy in the Middle East for the Center for American Progress, a left-leaning think tank in Washington, D.C.