Israel has set a higher threshold for any future vote on ceding parts of Jerusalem to Palestinians, who want the eastern part of the city for a future independent state.

The amendment to existing legislation raised the number of votes required in the 120-seat Knesset from 61 to 80, for approval of any proposal to hand over any part of the city to a "foreign party." The amendment comes less than a month after US President Donald Trump angered the Palestinians, Middle East leaders and world powers by recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Palestinian officials did not immediately comment. The status of Jerusalem, holy to Muslims, Jews and Christians, is one of the most sensitive issues in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict.