Muslim nations in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned President Donald Trump’s diplomatic recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
The Organization has been meeting in Istanbul, where Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday that the world should recognize East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine, in opposition to Trump’s commitment to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem.
A statement by the group released Wednesday said the U.S. move has encouraged Israel “to continue its policy of colonialism, settlement, apartheid and ethnic cleansing.”
Erdogan again called Israel a “terror state” at the conference.
The conference brings together the 57 members of the OIC — Erdogan called for an emergency session of the Muslim nations after Trump made his Jerusalem announcement last week.
Erdogan told the OIC members that Trump wants to “legitimize Israel’s attempt to occupy Jerusalem,” but said Islamic nations will not allow that to happen because he has crossed a “red line” for Muslim nations around the world.
Turkey’s foreign minister echoed Erdogan’s sentiments. Mevlut Cavusoglu claimed the OIC was here “to say ‘stop’ to tyranny.”
“They expect the Islamic nations to remain silent,” he said. “But we will never be silent. This bullying eliminates the possibility of peace and the grounds for shared life. The U.S. decision is null for us.”
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas wants the U.S. banished from Middle East peace negotiations. He told OIC members that Trump’s plan for Jerusalem is a “crime” and endangers world peace. He suggested the United Nations take the lead because the U.S. was unfit to do so.