US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meeting in New York during the 72nd UN General Assembly. Photo: GPO.

US President Donald Trump is planning to give a speech next week recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, a source has confirmed.

A “senior US official” told Reuters that the announcement will likely come on Wednesday.

The White House did not deny the report, simply saying, “We’ve nothing to announce.”

Reports also indicate that, despite the coming announcement, Trump will not move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and will likely sign the usual presidential waiver to that effect.

Until now, all previous US presidents have held that the status of Jerusalem remains open and must be determined through bilateral negotiations. Jerusalem is not officially recognized as Israel’s capital by the international community and most embassies remain in Tel Aviv.

Recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital would also come before a major peace push reportedly being planned by Trump and a small circle of advisers, including his son-in-law Jared Kushner and Ambassador to Israel David Friedman.

Israel has long claimed Jerusalem as its eternal and united capital. The Palestinians claim the eastern parts of the city as their own and often seek to deny any Jewish connection to the city whatsoever.