OIC must push East Jerusalem as Palestine capital: Turkish FM

ISTANBUL

Turkey’s foreign minister on Dec. 13 urged the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to encourage other countries worldwide to recognize East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine based on the 1967 borders.

“We, who recognize East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine, should encourage other countries to recognize East Jerusalem as Palestine’s capital on the basis of the 1967 borders,” Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said in a speech to his counterparts at the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Istanbul.

“We’ve gathered here in order to stop the persecution. The United States has deeply wounded humanity’s conscience. Israel is aiming to legitimize its occupation attempt. This U.S. decision is null and void for us,” he said.

“Let’s protect Jerusalem, which is a holy site for the three Abrahamic religions,” Çavuşoğlu said.

“Palestine needs to be recognized by other countries,” he added.

“We should encourage [countries] to recognize East Jerusalem as the capital,” but not only by saying that it is the capital, but by following through with action, he stressed.

“Today’s extraordinary summit will show the struggle of the Islamic Ummah,” or community, the minister said.

Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump announced his decision to formally recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

The announcement sparked strong condemnation from around the world, including Turkey, the European Union and the United Nations.

Jerusalem remains at the core of the Israel-Palestine conflict, with Palestinians hoping that East Jerusalem—now occupied by Israel—might eventually serve as the capital of a future Palestinian state.

During his election campaign last year, Trump repeatedly promised to relocate the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.