ADVERTISEMENTDonald Trump's expected decision to recognise Jerusalem as the Israeli capital has prompted a wave of condemnation across the Middle East and the wider world.
At a NATO summit in Brussels, Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu didn't mince his words ahead of the US president's anticipated declaration.
"It's going to be a grave mistake. Grave mistake. It will not bring any stability, peace but rather chaos to the region," Cavusoglu said.
The EU and other key allies including France and Britain have also voiced their concern about the expected move.
British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said: "We view the reports that we've heard with concern because we think that Jerusalem obviously should be part of the final settlement between the Israelis and the Palestinians, a negotiated settlement that we want to see. And we have no plans ourselves to move our embassy."
But reaction hasn't only been political. Pope Francis also expressed his profound concern. In his weekly address he called for Jerusalem's current status to be respected.
"I cannot hide my deep concern about the situation that has developed in the last days and, in the meantime, I make an urgent appeal to everybody to respect the status quo of the city.......and I pray that wisdom and prudence can prevail to avoid adding new elements of tension in a world scenario already convulsive."
Amid fears of a violent backlash over Trump's expected announcement, US Government employees working at the American consulate in Jerusalem have been told to avoid going into the old city.