Three Turkish parties issue joint declaration on Jerusalem

ANKARA

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) on Dec. 13 called on the international community to recognize East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine.

“We call on the Organization of Islamic Cooperation [OIC] and all other countries to recognize East Jerusalem as the capital of an independent Palestine, which is currently under occupation and whose borders were defined in 1967,” said the political parties in a joint declaration.

The parties recalled that parliament had issued a joint declaration on Dec. 6 against the U.S. move recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s “undivided” capital.

The AKP, the CHP and the MHP account for the overwhelming majority of seats in the Turkish parliament.

Last week, Trump announced his decision despite widespread opposition to formally recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and relocate Washington’s embassy from Tel Aviv to the holy city.

The announcement sparked strong condemnation across the world, including Turkey, the EU and the U.N.

The declaration comes following a 57-member OIC meeting that Turkey hosted on Wednesday to develop a unified Muslim position on Trump’s policy shift.

The OIC on Dec. 13 also recognized East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine, a move that favors a two-state solution based on the pre-1967 borders.