In Wednesday’s concluding session at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s Istanbul summit, leaders of Muslim countries declared East Jerusalem as the capital of the state of Palestine.
Leaders called the US decision to proclaim Jerusalem as the capital of Israel “irresponsible, null and void,” and said it serves “in the interest of extremism and terrorism.”
“We declare our recognition of the State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital, and we call on states to recognize the State of Palestine and occupied East Jerusalem as its capital,” read the Muslim leaders’ final statement of the summit.
“Trump’s decision is a deliberate undermining of all peace efforts, is in the interest of extremism and terrorism, and threatens international peace and security,” they added. The decision was considered “an indication of Washington’s withdrawal from its role as a sponsor of peace.”
A total of sixteen Muslim countries participated in the summit, including Egypt.
In his speech, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said that Egypt deplored the unilateral American decision, saying it contravenes international law.
He called for “justice in the face of policies of force [and] the recognition of the status quo,” while calling the US decision on Jerusalem an act of “rewarding an occupier.”
Shoukry spoke of how Palestinians have a historical and legal right to Palestine. No actor, he added, has the right to violate the international law and historical rights by legitimizing the occupation of lands.
Shoukry also maintained the view that a comprehensive and final settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict can only be achieved through a two-state solution, with East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine.
Meanwhile, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Palestinians would no longer accept any role for Washington in the peace process, describing Trump’s decision as a “major crime” which serves as “a gift to the Zionist movement.”
In response to Trump’s decision, Abbas warned of diplomatic consequences, threatening to no longer make agreements with Israel.
Violent confrontations continued between Palestinians and Israeli forces in occupied Palestinian territories, including Jerusalem, the West Bank, and on the border in Gaza.
Palestinian political factions in Gaza called for huge demonstrations on Friday to reject Trump’s decision.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
