Trump warned of violence spike if Jerusalem recognised as Israel's capital

Any move by the United States to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital would fuel extremism and violence, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said on Saturday.

He spoke a day after a senior American administration official said US President Donald Trump was likely to make the announcement next week.

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit made the warning as Trump is reported to be poised to announce the move next week.Reuters

The Palestinians want Jerusalem as the capital of their future state, and the international community does not recognise Israel's claim on all of the city, home to sites holy to the Jewish, Muslim and Christian religions.

Word of Trump's planned announcement, which would deviate from previous US presidents who have insisted the Jerusalem's status must be decided in negotiations, has already drawn criticism from the Palestinian Authority.

'Today we say very clearly that taking such action is not justified ... It will not serve peace or stability, but will fuel extremism and resort to violence,' Aboul Gheit said in a statement published on the Arab league's website.

'It only benefits one side; the Israeli government that is hostile to peace,' he added. 

It comes after a number of reports that suggested Trump would immenently follow up on a campaign pledge to move the US embassy in Israel from its internationally recognised capital in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.