This Article is From Dec 07, 2017

'Death to America', Says Pro-Hezbollah Paper Over Jerusalem Announcement

Donald Trump on Wednesday officially recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and said he would move the US Embassy there, sparking fury and frustration in Arab countries.

'Death to America', Says Pro-Hezbollah Paper Over Jerusalem Announcement

Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah addressing his supporters through a video screen in Beirut

Beirut: Lebanon's pro-Hezbollah al-Akhbar newspaper declared "Death to America" on its front page on Thursday, the strongest reaction among universally critical Lebanese press coverage of U.S. President Donald Trump's decision on the status of disputed Jerusalem.

Trump on Wednesday officially recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and said he would move the U.S. Embassy there, sparking fury and frustration in Arab countries.

Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, leader of the Iran-backed Hezbollah, is expected to deliver the group's first reaction to Trump's move in a televised address at 6 pm (1600 GMT) on Thursday.

Akhbar called Trump's decision "America's new Balfour," referring to the Balfour Declaration in which Britain endorsed the establishment of a Jewish homeland in the Middle East a century ago.

"Today in Palestine there is a capable, empowered resistance that owns thousands of rockets that can strike Tel Aviv," it said.

Hezbollah, a heavily-armed military and political organisation, has fought numerous conflicts with Israel since it was formed in 1982.

(Reporting by Sarah Dadouch; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
 
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