OIC Holds Extraordinary Summit to Seek United Response to Trump´s Declaration of Jerusalem as Capital of Israel
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- Published: Wednesday, 13 December 2017 08:17
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Photo: RHC.Istanbul, December 13.- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the US has "disqualified" itself from future Israel-Palestine peace talks after proving its "bias in favor of Israel".
"Jerusalem is and always will be the capital of Palestine," he said.
Abbas made this remarks in Istanbul, where he is attending an extraordinary summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) convened to seek a united response by Islamic countries to US President Donald Trump´s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel´s capital.
The meeting, which is also an act of solidarity with the Palestinian cause, is being attended by representatives from 48 countries and 16 heads of state, among them Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, as chair of the Non Aligned Movement.
Speaking on Wednesday at the opening ceremony, the group´s general secretary, Yousef al-Othaimeen, said the OIC rejects and condemns the American decision because it violates international law, it is a provocation of the feelings of Muslims and because it will create a situation of instability in the region and in the world.
President Donald Trump announced on December 6 that the US formally recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and will begin the process of moving its embassy to the city, breaking with decades of US policy.
The summit of Muslim leaders was called for by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan following Trump's announcement.
Speaking at the meeting, Erdogan accused Israel of being a "state of terror" and said the US' recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel has been rebuked by the international community.
"It is null and void … except Israel, no country in the world has supported [this decision]," he said.
Trump's controversial move provoked a wave of protests from Asia, through the Middle East, to North Africa, with tens of thousands of people taking to the streets in recent days to denounce his decision. (RHC)
