Final Istanbul communique calls on world to recognize East Jerusalem as occupied capital of Palestinian state
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) declared East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine following an extraordinary meeting held on Wednesday in Turkey’s Istanbul.
The communique came after Muslims leaders, including Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, gathered at an extraordinary summit of the OIC in Turkey’s commercial capital. Palestine has been an OIC member state for nearly 30 years.
The declaration added that the international community should also recognize East Jerusalem as Palestine’s capital and that the United States should withdraw from its role in the peace process.
The communique said it "rejects and condemns in the strongest terms the unilateral decision by the president of the United States America recognizing Jerusalem as the so-called capital of Israel, the occupying power."
It urged the world to recognize East Jerusalem as the occupied capital of the Palestinian state and invited “all countries to recognize the state of Palestine and East Jerusalem as its occupied capital.”
The 57-member bloc also affirmed “its readiness to take the Jerusalem issue to the UN General Assembly if the UN Security Council fails to take action” against the “grave violation” of the U.S. decision.
President Trump last week formally recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and initiated a plan to move the U.S.’s Israel embassy from Tel Aviv to the holy city.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan invited leaders of over 50 Muslim nations to Wednesday's meeting in Istanbul to formulate a joint response to Trump's decision.
During the summit, Erdoğan called on world powers to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine and said that the United States should reverse a decision recognizing the city as Israel's capital.
“The U.S. decision on Jerusalem rewards Israel’s acts of terror. We recognize Jerusalem as the capital of occupied Palestine and call on the entire world to do the same. Jerusalem is the red line for Muslims,” Erdoğan said, praising countries which have refused to recognize the U.S. move and adding that the incorporation of Palestine in international accords should be accelerated.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas added that his country would not accept a future role for the U.S. in the Middle East peace process.
“We will never allow the U.S. a role in the future peace process. Jerusalem is and always will be the capital of Palestine," he said, calling on the world to acknowledge the city as such and adding that Trump's decision was "the greatest crime" and a violation of international law.
