Middle East

Erdogan: Jerusalem has not been abandoned

Turkish president also says US mediation in Palestinian-Israeli peace process no longer possible

13.12.2017 - Update : 14.12.2017
Erdogan: Jerusalem has not been abandoned Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivering closing remarks of an extraordinary summit meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on Wednesday, December 13, 2017, in Istanbul, Turkey.

By Nilay Kar Onum and Satuk Bugra Kutlugun

ISTANBUL

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday an Istanbul summit of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) had showed the world Jerusalem had not been "abandoned".

"I believe with this historic summit, we showed the world, as well as decision-makers, that Jerusalem has not been abandoned," Erdogan told during a news conference in Istanbul following the extraordinary OIC summit.

Erdogan reiterated Jerusalem was a “red line” for Muslims and U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent move had “no value”.

“We… along with the 1.7-billion Islamic world, once again confirm that we have rejected the decision of the American administration.”

Ruling out U.S. mediation between Israel and Palestine, Erdogan said it was no longer possible for Americans to play a mediation role in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. 

“This process is over,” he added.

 

Revoke ‘wrong decision’

During his speech, Erdogan called on the U.S. to revoke its “wrong decision” over Jerusalem.

“We expect the American authorities to revoke this wrong decision as soon as possible," he said, adding that Jerusalem's fate "cannot be handed to a country that thrives from blood and expanding its territories by killing children, civilians, women."

The president also called on OIC leaders to maintain their resolute stance over Jerusalem after the summit.

"We, together with our international partners will continue our struggle over Jerusalem on the basis of law and legitimacy until the U.S. administration revokes the wrong decision,” he said.

In the same news conference, OIC Secretary General Yousef al-Othaimeen said Trump’s decision on Jerusalem “will not change anything on the ground”.

The secretary general said a definitive status of the holy city of Jerusalem could only be achieved through negotiations in line with UN resolutions.

Last week, Trump announced his decision -- despite widespread opposition across the Middle East -- to formally recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. 

The announcement sparked strong condemnation from around the world, including Turkey, the EU and the UN.

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.

The OIC was established during a historic summit in Rabat, Morocco, in 1969 following an arson attack on the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem.

Al-Aqsa was set on fire by an Australian Christian called Michael Denis Rohan on Aug. 21, 1969. The shrine and a 1,000-year-old pulpit were totally destroyed as well as several historical sites.

Rohan had joined a U.S.-based sect called “The Church of God” and believed that setting fire to Al-Aqsa would hasten the coming of the Messiah.

He was later declared mentally unstable and is reported to have died in psychiatric care in 1995.

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