Despite the violence triggered by the US embassy move, President Trump says he still hopes for peace. However, he chose not to attend the ceremony.

As these gruesome images of the dead and injured played out across the world, a message of peace was played out from the U.S. President in Jerusalem.

DONALD TRUMP US PRESIDENT "Our greatest hope is for peace. The United States remains fully committed to facilitating a lasting peace agreement and we continue to support the status quo at Jerusalem's holy sites including at the Temple mount, also known as Haram al-Sharif."

But talking peace, while Israel essentially waged war makes the U.S. policy of recognizing Jerusalem as the Israeli capital that much harder to defend. U.S. officials have argued that by recognizing Jerusalem as the Israeli capital - and moving the American embassy there - they have removed a big stumbling block to peace talks by accepting a reality. But, in fact, many analysts argue the opposite has happened. Palestinians, though divided, also claim Jerusalem as their capital. They now reject the U.S. as an honest broker. Washington has yet to unveil its much delayed peace plan for the region. It is likely to be rejected by Palestinians and the bulk of the international community.

Here in the U.S. - especially at the United Nations - there has been reaction, too. There, the Palestinian representative said the U.S. has blood on its hands.

RIYAD MANSOUR PALESTINIAN AMBASSADOR TO UNITED NATIONS "Of course, this massacre is taking place at the same time when the United States of America illegally and unilaterally, and in a provocative way, is opening its embassy. It is very, very tragic that they are celebrating an illegal action, while Israel is killing and injuring thousands of Palestinian civilians."

But the truth is there is a new reality in the Middle East. The Arab world isn't prioritizing the Palestinian question right now. Saudi Arabia and others are more concerned with the threat from Iran. There is a de facto U.S., Israeli, and Saudi alliance against Tehran right now. Especially in the wake of the U.S. withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal last week. For U.S. President Trump this about fulfilling a campaign pledge to move the embassy and it plays well with his political base, too. Many evangelical Christians are big supporters of Israel and the U.S. election campaign season starts soon.