I didn’t say anything. But I thought the city had been abandoned by Palestinian leaders long ago. The Palestinians in Jerusalem have been on their own, without effective leadership, for years, enduring heavy taxation and overcrowding that makes their lives miserable, while suffering the Israeli discrimination that leaves the Palestinian side of the city underdeveloped.

There had been a moment of hope among Palestinians after the Oslo Accords were signed in 1993, when our leaders believed that the status of Jerusalem would soon be negotiated. They began developing their political presence in the city, which we thought would lead to an improvement in daily life.

But Israel’s right wing fought hard against the Oslo Accords, and the mood eventually deflated. Right-wing Israelis lobbied the United States Congress, which in 1995 passed a bill calling for the American Embassy to be moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The act was disregarded by American presidents until President Trump’s announcement on Wednesday.

Ramzi told me that he hadn’t been able to get a permit to visit Jerusalem in 15 years. I realized that he was not aware of the cultural revival that has been taking place in East Jerusalem. An old movie theater has been renovated and a music academy has been established. Book stores and cafes are popping up, along with dance and drama festivals. Despite the hardships, Palestinian Jerusalemites have been determined to revive their city.

Crowds began to swell and an hour later a demonstration came together. We roamed the Ramallah streets, where businesses had closed up shop as a sign of protest. At the exit of the city, where the Israeli army still has a presence, it wasn’t so calm. Young men and women were attempting to break through the barriers that prevented Palestinians from reaching Jerusalem, but they were being rebuffed by the Israelis.

That evening I went home feeling dismayed that Washington’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital was made with no consideration of the discrimination and underdevelopment of the past 50 years designed to drive Palestinians out of the city. The United States not only has confirmed its bias in favor of Israel but also has given approval to the kind of relations between Israel and Palestine that cannot possibly be the basis for peace and coexistence.

What I witnessed on Thursday was a mild beginning to what may develop into a sustained violent expression of the pent-up anger felt by most Palestinians — whether they live in Jerusalem or outside. On Friday, thousands of protesters in Jerusalem, Gaza and here in the West Bank took to the streets. At least two Palestinians were killed and 100 wounded. President Trump might have unwittingly lit a fuse that Israel may have great difficulty putting out.