East Jerusalem was annexed by Israel during the 1967 war. Photo: File 

BEIJING: With US President Donald Trump expected to announce at 11pm PST today the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, the world is preparing for the potential negative fallout of the move. 

China warned on Wednesday that Trump's plan to recognise Jerusalem could fuel tensions in the region.

"We are concerned about the possible escalation of tensions," foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a regular news briefing.

"All relevant parties should bear regional peace and tranquility in mind, be cautious in words and deeds, avoid impacting the foundation for the settlement of the issue of Palestine, and avoid causing new confrontation in the region."

A senior Trump administration official has said the president would make the announcement from the White House, upending decades of careful US policy and ignoring dire warnings of a historic misstep that could trigger a surge of violence in the Middle East.

US President Trump to recognise Jerusalem as Israel´s capital

The decision upends decades of careful US policy and ignores dire warnings of a historic misstep that could trigger a surge of violence in the Middle East

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, also said Trump would order officials to begin planning to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Pope for recognising the rights of all people

Pope Francis, speaking on Wednesday to a group of visiting Palestinians involved in inter-religious dialogue with the Vatican, said that ?recognising the rights of all people?, in the Holy Land is a primary condition for dialogue.

?The Holy Land is for us Christians the land par excellence of dialogue between God and mankind,? he said.

He spoke of dialogue between religions ?and also in civil society?.

?The primary condition of that dialogue is reciprocal respect and a commitment to strengthening that respect, for the sake of recognising the rights of all people, wherever they happen to be,? he said.

The pope also spoke to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas about the crisis on Tuesday.

Violent clashes cannot be ruled out: Germany

Germany is concerned that violent clashes could erupt in the Middle East following the decision, the German Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

In an update of its travel advice for Israel and the Palestinian territories, the ministry in Berlin said: ?From December 6, 2017, there may be demonstrations in Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Violent clashes can not be ruled out.?

Abbas asks Pope, world powers, to intervene against US Embassy move: spokesman

President Abbas spoke after his call with President Trump with the presidents of Russia and France, with the Pope and with King Abdullah of Jordan

The ministry advised German travelers in Jerusalem to closely monitor the situation via local media and avoid the affected areas.

Should wait and see what Trump says: UK 

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said on Wednesday that he was concerned about the reports.

?Lets wait and see what the president says exactly. But, you know, we view the reports that we have heard with concern because we think that Jerusalem obviously should be part of the final settlement between the Israelis and the Palestinians,? he told reporters in Brussels.

US intention sign of its incompetence, failure: Iran 

The US intention to move its embassy to Jerusalem is a sign of its incompetence and failure, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Wednesday, according to his official website.

?That they claim they want to announce Quds as the capital of occupied Palestine is because of their incompetence and failure,? Khamenei said, using the Arabic name for Jerusalem.

Trump tells Abbas of intention to move embassy to Jerusalem: Palestinian spokesman

Trump likely to make the announcement to formally recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel

?On the issue of Palestine (US) hands are tied and they cannot advance their goals,? Khamenei said.

He said Palestine would be ?freed? and Palestinian people will be victorious.

He said the United States wanted to start a war in the region to protect the security of Israel.

?American government officials have said themselves that we have to start a war in the region to protect the security of the Zionist regime,? Khamenei said.

Meanwhile, condeming the decision, the Syrian government said, ?(The move) is the culmination of the crime of usurping Palestine and displacing the Palestinian people,? Syrian state news agency SANA said, quoting a foreign ministry official.