Israel starts erecting US embassy signs in Jerusalem

Three signs in Hebrew, Arabic and English were erected close to the site of a US consulate building the will become the newly-relocated embassy, official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported on Monday.

Senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat stressed on Monday that embassy move is a "grave violation of international law."

For his part the Israeli mayor of Jerusalem hailed the signs in an online statement.

"This is not a dream - it's reality! This morning, I am proud and excited to install the first signs for the US embassy," Nir Barkat said.

The US has pushed ahead with plans to relocate its embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv on May 14.

The move has deeply angered Palestinians, who see the Israeli-annexed eastern sector of Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.

It has sparked major protests by Palestinians and led Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to cut off ties with the administration of US President Donald Trump.

Trump said last week that he might attend the opening ceremony of the new US embassy.

Israel's defence minister said on Saturday that Israel will "pay a price" for the move.

"Nothing comes for free... and the opening of the US Embassy in Jerusalem will come at a price and it is worth paying it. We should be prepared to pay a price," Avigdor Lieberman said, without providing further details.

But many countries are not expected to follow the US' lead.

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said his country would not relocate its embassy to Jerusalem.

Israel seized Jerusalem in the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed it, in moves never recognised by the international community.