Palestinians hold national flags as they take part in a protest against the U.S. decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, in the West Bank city of Nablus, on Dec. 7, 2017. (Xinhua/Ayman Nobani)

UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital puts into question the credibility of the Middle East peace process, said the Swedish ambassador to the United Nations on Thursday.

That is why Sweden and seven other members of the Security Council have requested an emergency council meeting to discuss the issue, Olof Skoog, Sweden's permanent representative to the United Nations, told reporters.

"It would be very strange if the Security Council did not address it given the reactions that have come around the world," he said.

"To make this decision yesterday puts the credibility of that peace process a little bit into question. That is why we wanted to raise this in the Security Council to make sure we put it all back on track," he said.

The timing and the substance of the Trump decision is "very unfortunate," especially when tensions in the region are already high, said the ambassador.

A Security Council meeting with a briefing by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres could help to clarify issues and put into context a renewed effort to find a peaceful solution and a two-state solution, he said.

Britain, France, Italy, Sweden, together with Bolivia, Egypt, Senegal and Uruguay, requested the emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, which was scheduled for Friday.

Jonathan Allen, Britain's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, said his country had urged the United States to bring forward its proposals on the Middle East peace process as soon as possible after Trump's announcement.

London has made it clear that it does not agree with the Trump decision, which is not a helpful move at this stage, Allen told reporters.

Trump's announcement on Wednesday to recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital has triggered widespread criticism and worries across the world as it is generally believed that the move would destabilize the region.