The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation declared East Jerusalem as the capital of the state of Palestine, and invited all countries to recognise the state of Palestine and East Jerusalem as its occupied capital.
A draft declaration adopted by the extraordinary session considered Washington’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel “as a sign of US withdrawal from its role as a sponsor of the Middle East peace.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged the world to recognise occupied East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine, as Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas warned there could be no peace in the Middle East until such a step is taken.
Erdogan had convened the emergency summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, seeking a coordinated response to the recognition of Jerusalem by US President Donald Trump as Israel’s capital.
In an angry address, Abbas warned that the United States has lost its role as mediator in the peace process between Israel and Palestinians, denouncing Washington as biased in favour of the Jewish state.
Erdogan, whose country holds the rotating chairmanship of the OIC, is hoping to unite the Muslim leaders for a tough final statement on the Trump move. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said a sovereign homeland for the Palestinian people with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital remained the only road ap for the Ummah and the OIC. He said the US decision is a blatant attempt to set in motion steps to change the historic and lawful status of the Holy City.
Abbasi urged the United States to rescind the decision and fully comply with all the UN Security Council resolutions and recommit unequivocally to the two-state solution. He said Pakistan calls upon the United Nations Security Council to play its role as envisaged under the UN Charter, as its credibility would be questioned if it did not live up to its primary role in maintaining international peace and security.
Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif said the US recognition of Jerusalem undermined its role as an honest broker in the peace process. He said President Donald Trump’s decision of recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital is contrary to the international legality. He asked the participants that if the UN Security Council is unable to act, then the OIC should call for a UN General Assembly emergency session. The absence of Saudi leader from OIC’s meeting created negative impression and indicated the rift in Muslim world. OIC has adopted soft stance and could not properly represent the sentiments of Muslims regarding the issue. All Muslims countries should unite to protect the interests of Muslim Umma otherwise sufferings of Muslims in all over the world will not end.