The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has recognized East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine rejecting the U.S. biased stance and calling on the international community to follow in its footsteps.
At a summit held in Turkey a week after U.S. President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital Muslim leaders on Wednesday called on all countries to recognize the State of Palestine and East Jerusalem as its occupied capital.
In a statement the OIC added that the 57-member group remains committed to a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution.
It also called on the UN to “end the Israeli occupation” of Palestine and declared Trump’s administration liable for “all the consequences of not retracting from this illegal decision”.
“[We] consider that this dangerous declaration which aims to change the legal status of the [city] is null and void and lacks any legitimacy” the group said.
Speaking earlier on Wednesday Yousef al-Othaimeen the OIC’s secretary general rejected the U.S. decision and urged Muslim leaders to work together to present a united response to the move.
“The OIC rejects and condemns the American decision” he said. “This is a violation of international law … and this is a provocation of the feelings of Muslims in the world.”
Speaking before al-Othaimeen Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the U.S. had “disqualified” itself from future Israel-Palestine peace talks after proving its “bias in favor of Israel”.
Trump announced on December 6 that the U.S. formally recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and will begin the process of moving its embassy to the city breaking with decades of U.S. policy.
