Negotiating behavior by President Trump. This is a diplomatic crisis that is the doing of the president himself. We continue to believe there is a very Good Opportunity for peace to be achieved. Theres no scenario in any Peace Process that jerusalem is not recognized as the capital. This is not an american first Foreign Policy gesture. This is a trump first move. This is a big day in washington when it comes to the russia investigation. The president s son donald trump jr. Is testifying on capitol hill. A closed door interview with the House Intelligence Committee today. Hes expected to face questioning about the trump familys denying reports that bob muellers team is subpoenaed Deutsche Bank for records of the president s financial dealings. New information obtained by nbc news is shedding more light on what trump junior was looking for from a russian lawyer. Russian Attorney Says donald trump jr. Asked her if she had evidence of illegal donations to the Clinton Foundation in a meeting at trump tower in june of 2016. All right. Lots to cover this morning. But the biggest thing right now is that President Trump is preparing to upend nearly a half a century of u. S. Policy in the middle east announcing plans to recognize jerusalem rather than tel aviv as the capital of israel. The president is working to make good on one of his Many Campaign promises. We will move the American Embassy to the eternal capital of the jewish people jerusalem. But the announcement is bringing alarm. U. S. Allies across the middle east from saudi arabia to jordan to turkey warn this could destroy hopes for a peace settlement between israel and the palestinians. Jordans King Abdullah ii says the move will provoke muslims and christians alike. Even theresa may voiced concerns over the president s planned announcement. The pope saying he hopes President Trump will reconsider the move. The leader of hamas said moving the embassy would cross a red line. The group declared three days of National Anger beginning today. Hoping to organize protests in the region. But it is unclear if the president will order the embassy to be moved to jerusalem or how long that would take. Lets put Historical Perspective on why this issue is just so delicate. Its understandable. Its been going on for a long time. People may not remember all the context and history about it. Lets bring you up to speed on this. The beginning of our current climate dates back about a hundred years to the collapse of the otman empire. In 1917 the british took over jerusalem. A movement called zionism started. It gained some stuff with the goal of creating a jewish state. Understandable because of everything that happened in the holocaust. The british wanted this thing to look like. It was submitted to the United Nations in 1947 and the hope is that they were going to split jerusalem between muslims, jews, and christians aiming to create a jewish state and an arab state. With jerusalem itself not governed by any one country. Now, arabs subject to the plan said absolutely not. Arab countries surrounding the state of Israel Attacked it in 1948. Israel won that war and in the process occupied west jerusalem. They declared jerusalem as israels capital. The Israel Legislature moved from tel aviv to jerusalem in 1950. However, at no point recognized jerusalem as israels capital. Nor did governments around the world. Every embassy to the world remains in tel aviv to this day. 1967, another led to gaza seizing the west strip, west bank, and East Jerusalem which was then controlled by jordan. Now, the annexation of East Jerusalem which displaced many was not recognized by the International Community and is the main factor for preventing israeli and Palestinian Peace talks. Maybe not the main factor. Nevertheless, in 1980 israel passed a law declaring jerusalem complete and united as the capital of israel. U. S. President s, however, have refused to recognize jerusalem as the israeli capital since the camp david accords in 1979 partially to help ease the Peace Process in the hopes of obtaining a twostate solution between israelis and palestinians. That is predicated on East Jerusalem being the capital of a palestinian state. In 1995, president clinton signed the embassy act which required the u. S. Embassy to be moved from tel aviv to jerusalem. But the act included a waiver signed by the president every six months delaying the embassys move. And every president since then has signed that waiver including President Trump back in june. It is unclear as stephanie said if you refuse to sign the waiver or hell sign it and declare jerusalem the capital. But either way, there could be dire consequences. Joining us now is a senior fellow at the center for new american center. And eamon mo. Reporter as you could imagine with the historical layout you put forward, it depends what side of the divide youre on. On the palestinian side. We heard from the Christian Community here who criticized this move saying its not the right time. Its not the right decision. We heard from palestinian factions including militant groups and heard from ordinary palestinians. As you go broader into the arab world, you heard from any country on the map. They will tell you thats not a good decision. They expressed their concerns to the u. S. Privately and publicly with their statements. But have very different reaction as you could imagine from israelis here. Welcomed this decision at one point there was supposed to be celebrations here. The weather has not been cooperating. But you could imagine for a lot of israelis that this is a dream being fulfilled that jerusalem is being recognized by the United States as the capital. What that does is heightens the tension here on the ground. That is why palestinian factions are calling for three days of rage. Well see how that plays out over the course of the next day. It comes down to how President Trump makes this announcement. There are some being skeptical but hopeful that perhaps in the tone of President Trumps message in deciding to move the embassy to a part of jerusalem as you outlined west jerusalem, that you could also advance the claims by palestinians that East Jerusalem will be the future capital of their state. That is enshrined in International Law as they argue. And so they would hope that President Trump at least strikes that balance with the language of what he is going to say today. Im not very confident according to palestinians ive spoken to that theyre hopeful that he will strike that right balance. Thats why the mood here is a little bit dire but also tense. Guys . Ayman, that is helpful. Elon, talk to us about the potential danger here. That sense of optimism, people like that. There is an argument being the middle guy hasnt worked. Could this be a new strategy . But give us the real dangers. So theres a series of dangers. First of all, i just say it makes absolutely no sense to do this right now. Supposedly the Trump Administration is in the middle of a big peace initiative. But also to recognize the palestinian state and palestinian capital in East Jerusalem. That would make sense. Instead what the president is doing is throwing a grenade into the middle of this process. He just kills the process and everything blows over in terms of the violence and danger in the region. The more dangerous scenarios are if you do have these protests get out of control, the biggest thing i worry about is possibly targeting of american diplomatic personnel. Because the embassy is such a significant piece of this that then you have targeting of embassies in the middle east. And that becomes the biggest danger. Protests in jordan which is 70 palestinian. The key partner of the United States and not necessarily the most stable country in the world. Protests in the west bank. All these things could be very explosive and get out of control. We have to hope that does not happen. Ayman, the president has spoken to sisi of egypt. Spoken to the turks. Apparently the mayor of qatar today. And the jordanians. Theyve all said dont do this. They said exactly what elon has said. Theres more danger than benefit in doing it. But in the end, palestinians often feel they even feel disconnected from their own governments in many cases. The danger of that third as much as it will be a protest against the israelis or anyone else. Reporter that is a sentiment echoed widely here. Ineffective in stopping this but also in ending the occupation. So as a result there is a growing sense of frustration among palestinians in East Jerusalem and the west bank toward the Palestinian Authority. That their efforts of participating in the Peace Process over the years have not participated. And at the same time theres also anger and frustration with the militant factions including hamas and others who over the years have engaged in Armed Conflict with israel much to the detriment of palestinians who are still in gaza. And what youre seeing is this kind of third movement, so to speak, that has emerged among palestinians. That is also a movement saying that is the only way to get the International Community to recognize some of these legitimate claims of the palestinian people. Because the Palestinian Authority has failed to deliver on their process, on their promises in the Peace Process, and so, too, have the palestinian factions that are not engaged in any diplomatic process. And to the International Community. Thats an important point to keep in mind. And elon, where does iran fit into this whole thing . Because the iranians have at least have given vocal support to the palestinians and in some places supplied them with military support. Well, this isnt really about iran per se, but it is a great opportunity for the iranians. You know, i think what the iranians will try and do is play this role of being in the oppositi opposition, the access of resistance. And any of americas arab partners stay close to the United States. Iran will use that. So, for example, it would be interesting to see when the next time President Trump or Jared Kushner, even Rex Tillerson are able to meet with the family. Is that going the happen . Or can does salman feel he cant be seen with the United States for awhile because of the diplomatic benefit that gives to iran and irans ability to argue the saudis are american stooges after doing this politically provocative thing. Theres also a question i would argue that when you talk to israelis, none of them care all that much. Theyre excited about the embassy moving. But really on the wish list, this was pretty low. Nobody was clamoring for this now. What they really want is the United States to push back on iran and the middle east. The president gave a tough speech, weve actually seen no action. And the israelis are incredibly concerned about what iran is doing in syria and getting no response and help. Jcpoa being the iran deal. Thank you so much. And weve got breaking news in southern california. A fastmoving wildfire is burning at the edge of a busy expressway during the morning rush. Officials have ordered thousands of people to evacuate. Traffic is backed up with people stranded in very dangerous conditions. Msnbcs jacob soberov is live in l. A. It looks devastating. Reporter yeah, hey steph, hey ali. Earlier this morning many the middle of the predawn rush hour, folks were stopped in their tracks on the 405 freeway headed northbound towards mulholland drive. Stopped because there was a massive wildfire. Im here now with members of the l. A. City Fire Department who are fighting it basically below and above many households here in the west coast foothills of the bel air area of los angeles. If you look down there, you can see a resident fighting in tandem with the Fire Department with his own hose down there, ali and steph. Basically trying to tamp down on the flames that are directly above that home. If you take a look, out in this direction, thats the getty center. Its one of the cultural monuments in the city of los angeles. And directly below that is the 405 freeway. Right now all traffic is stopped coming northbound on the 405. Theyre starting to let cars through on the southbound side, but for miles, theres a huge wildfire burning up and down this freeway. Lets look at this right here. There are firefighting helicopters coming in and out of this area right now. And on the ridge up there, im not sure you can see it. But there are crews, men and women of the Los Angeles County and city Fire Departments actually going by hand and trying try ing to tamp down this fire. I want to come back down over here and bring in this captain. Talk to us about what were seeing out here right now. We got here in the Early Morning fire that spread fast here. The wind driven fire we had. Came down here to the southbound from the 405 here and ran down the valley. Right now the primary objective for you guys is obviously defend life and property. Correct. At this point, yes. Reporter so can you talk to us about the tactics being used right now . What are we looking at here . From the top, were in someones back yard here. Youre looking down at other homes and trying to keep those flames away. All this started from embers being thrown downwind here. What were trying to do is allow it to run up these hills and these homes up here. And all the dry brush. Were talking about an area that has got a lot of people out here. You know, the neighborhoods of bel air, brent wood. Were talking about tens of thousands of people that live in this general area. Correct. Not only people going to work this morning but also the mandatory evacuation in this area. Reporter this is a mandatory evacuation zone, steph and ali. What youre looking at is up in the hills below bel air are members of l. A. City engine 3 Fire Department. There are units from all over the city that are here right now just to give you an idea. Engine 11 where captain goodwin and his team are from is on the other side of los angeles. We have a 55,000 acre fire burning up in Ventura County fire. Thats the thomas fire where units from throughout the state are also and its not just these two. I think weve got at least four, possibly five, maybe more fires burning simultaneously throughout southern california. Its been a very, very dry last couple months out here. And even though were in december and this morning the temperatures dipped into the 40 degree range, you got massive widefires through the area. Quickly before we go, how about you . Your family . Your house . Okay . Reporter thats nice of you to ask. I grew up not too far away from here, actually. Just a little bit over this mountain towards the pacific ocean. My familys okay. My wife, my son are okay not too far from where the brave men and women from engine 11 are coming over here from. Stay safe. So, so sorry to see this terrible, terrible news. Yeah. Jacob, thanks very much. The president just tweeted about these fires. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone in the path of the california wildfires. I encourage everyone to heed the advice and orders of local and state officials. Thank you to all First Responders for your work. I stand by the president on that statement. Thank you to the First Responders. Stand by, everybody. Right now on capitol hill, donald trump jr. Testifying. The latest on the closed door session as we learn more about his meeting with russians during the 2016 campaign. There is much more ahead today. This hour at 11 30 President Trump will host a Cabinet Meeting at the white house. At noon, thousands of socalled d. R. E. A. M. Ers are set to protest in washington. At 1 00 well hear from democrats on new Gun Legislation that the house will vote on today. That bill would force all states to recognize concealed carry permits from any other state. On that issue, later this hour well speak with astronaut mark kelly whos advocated for gun control since the shooting of his wife Gabby Giffords. Stay with us. Yo, check it out dawg. That was just aight for me. I mean, you got the walk. You got the stance. But i wasnt really feeling it. You know what, im not buying this. You gotta come a little harder dawg. You gotta figure it out. Eh, i dont know. Sha