11 December 2017•Update: 12 December 2017
By Leith al-Juneidi
AMMAN
Jordan's King Abdullah II on Monday said an upcoming Islamic summit in Turkey would focus on the “challenges” posed by last week’s recognition by the U.S. of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
The king made the remarks at a meeting with Chuichi Date, president of Japan’s House of Councilors, at Amman’s Husseiniya Palace, according to a statement issued by Jordan’s Royal Court.
On Wednesday, the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) plans to hold an emergency summit in Istanbul to discuss recent regional developments, especially as they pertain to Jerusalem.
Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump announced his decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and relocate the U.S. embassy to the city.
The dramatic shift in longstanding U.S. policy drew angry reactions -- including numerous demonstrations -- from across the Middle East.
Speaking Monday, King Abdullah said the U.S. decision would have "serious repercussions” on regional stability and efforts to restart the Israel-Palestine peace process.
He urged the international community to “shoulder its responsibilities” regarding Jerusalem and help achieve a “just and lasting solution” to the perennial Middle East conflict.
"The Jerusalem issue must be resolved within the framework of a settlement that also includes an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital,” the king said.
Chuichi, for his part, described last week’s move by the U.S. as a “cause for concern due to its negative impact on the region”, according to the same Royal Court statement.
The Japanese official reportedly went on to stress his country's commitment to a “two-state solution”, saying the Jerusalem issue must be resolved through final status negotiations.
Jerusalem remains at the heart of the Israel-Palestine conflict, with Palestinians hoping that East Jerusalem -- now occupied by Israel -- might eventually serve as the capital of a Palestinian state.
During his electoral campaign last year, Trump repeatedly promised to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and acknowledge Jerusalem as the Jewish state’s capital.
In April, Moscow announced its recognition of West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, expressing hope that the city’s eastern half might eventually serve as the capital of an independent Palestine.
Notably, in last week’s announcement, Trump stressed that his administration had yet to take a position regarding “the specific boundaries of Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem”.
