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| Erdoğan aims to unite Muslim world behind anti-Trump declaration | Erdoğan aims to unite Muslim world behind anti-Trump declaration |
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| Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas formally declared that Palestinians will no longer accept the US as a mediator in the Middle East peace process following Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. | |
| In his strongest public statement so far since Trump’s decision, Abbas called the move a “crime” that threatened world peace, as he demanded the United Nations to take charge of the peace process arguing that Washington is no longer “fit” for the task. | |
| Abbas was speaking at a hastily convened meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul which called on its members to recognise a Palestinian state, amid strong condemnations of both the US and Israel. | |
| Iranian president Hassan Rouhani was among heads of state attending, including King Abdullah of Jordan, Lebanese President Michel Aoun and as well as the emirs of Qatar and Kuwait. | |
| “Jerusalem is and will forever be the capital of the Palestinian state,” Abbas told delegates. “We do not accept any role of the United States in the political process from now on. Because it is completely biased towards Israel,” he said. | |
| The summit was opened by the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who regards himself as a champion of the Palestinian cause, and had hoped to unite Muslim leaders behind a tough final statement from the meeting. | |
| Erdogan called for the acceleration of the recognition of Palestine by international institutions, denouncing the US move as an unlawful and provocative “red line” for Muslims, and describing Israel as an occupying and “terror” state. | |
| Trump’s move was also strongly condemned by King Abdullah of Jordan and by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani who called on all Muslim nations to unite to defend the rights of Palestinians against Donald Trump’s decision. | |
| However in a sign of cracks in the unity of Arab countries - and reflecting the wider tensions in the region - Saudi Arabia and Egypt were represented at a more junior level taking a back seat in the proceedings. | |
| In comments pointedly aimed at Saudi Arabia Rouhani added that the only reason Donald Trump “dared” recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel was because some in the region sought to establish ties to Israel. | |
| Rouhani’s remarks - and the prominence of countries closer in Iran at the summit - suggests that the contentious issue of Jerusalem risks being sucked into the escalating confrontation between Riyadh and Tehran. | |
| Of all the issues at the heart of the enduring conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, none is as sensitive as the status of Jerusalem. The holy city has been at the centre of peace-making efforts for decades. | Of all the issues at the heart of the enduring conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, none is as sensitive as the status of Jerusalem. The holy city has been at the centre of peace-making efforts for decades. |
| Seventy years ago, when the UN voted to partition Palestine into Jewish and Arab states, Jerusalem was defined as a separate entity under international supervision. In the war of 1948 it was divided, like Berlin in the cold war, into western and eastern sectors under Israeli and Jordanian control respectively. Nineteen years later, in June 1967, Israel captured the eastern side, expanded the city’s boundaries and annexed it – an act that was never recognised internationally. | Seventy years ago, when the UN voted to partition Palestine into Jewish and Arab states, Jerusalem was defined as a separate entity under international supervision. In the war of 1948 it was divided, like Berlin in the cold war, into western and eastern sectors under Israeli and Jordanian control respectively. Nineteen years later, in June 1967, Israel captured the eastern side, expanded the city’s boundaries and annexed it – an act that was never recognised internationally. |
| Israel routinely describes the city, with its Jewish, Muslim and Christian holy places, as its “united and eternal” capital. For their part, the Palestinians say East Jerusalem must be the capital of a future independent Palestinian state. The unequivocal international view, accepted by all previous US administrations, is that the city’s status must be addressed in peace negotiations. | Israel routinely describes the city, with its Jewish, Muslim and Christian holy places, as its “united and eternal” capital. For their part, the Palestinians say East Jerusalem must be the capital of a future independent Palestinian state. The unequivocal international view, accepted by all previous US administrations, is that the city’s status must be addressed in peace negotiations. |
| Recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital puts the US out of step with the rest of the world, and legitimises Israeli settlement-building in the east – considered illegal under international law. | Recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital puts the US out of step with the rest of the world, and legitimises Israeli settlement-building in the east – considered illegal under international law. |
| Much of the language on Wednesday morning echoed that used in an emergency Arab League meeting in Cairo at the weekend, when Arab foreign ministers demanded that the US rescind Trump’s decision. | Much of the language on Wednesday morning echoed that used in an emergency Arab League meeting in Cairo at the weekend, when Arab foreign ministers demanded that the US rescind Trump’s decision. |
| Analysts, however, raised doubts as to whether Turkey’s leadership could bridge gaps in the Muslim political community, which is divided along Shia and Sunni lines. | Analysts, however, raised doubts as to whether Turkey’s leadership could bridge gaps in the Muslim political community, which is divided along Shia and Sunni lines. |
| Despite the strength of the condemnations the meeting appeared to have fallen short of the hopes of Palestinians for a display of unity, predicted by some analysts ahead of the summit. | |
| Aaron Stein, resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East, told AFP ahead of the meeting that he believed Muslim leaders would merely “issue a boiler-plate condemnation”. “What that actually means is anyone’s guess,” he added. | |
| There are fears that regional tensions may be fanned further by a visit early next week by the US vice-president, Mike Pence, which was originally billed as focusing on the experience of Christians in the Middle East. | There are fears that regional tensions may be fanned further by a visit early next week by the US vice-president, Mike Pence, which was originally billed as focusing on the experience of Christians in the Middle East. |
| Abbas has already said he will refuse to meet Pence in protest, and Christian Palestinian leaders have also come under pressure to boycott his visit. | Abbas has already said he will refuse to meet Pence in protest, and Christian Palestinian leaders have also come under pressure to boycott his visit. |
| Trump’s announcement last week prompted an outpouring of anger in the Muslim and Arab world, where tens of thousands of people took to the streets to denounce Israel and show solidarity with the Palestinians. | Trump’s announcement last week prompted an outpouring of anger in the Muslim and Arab world, where tens of thousands of people took to the streets to denounce Israel and show solidarity with the Palestinians. |
| The peace process has been at death’s door since the former secretary of state John Kerry’s peace mission ended in failure in 2014. But the international community – apart from the US – is united in saying recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel is disastrous for any hopes of reviving meaningful talks. The status of Jerusalem is one of the pivotal issues that diplomats and peacemakers have said must be agreed between the two parties in negotiations. | The peace process has been at death’s door since the former secretary of state John Kerry’s peace mission ended in failure in 2014. But the international community – apart from the US – is united in saying recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel is disastrous for any hopes of reviving meaningful talks. The status of Jerusalem is one of the pivotal issues that diplomats and peacemakers have said must be agreed between the two parties in negotiations. |
| Palestinians will see Trump’s announcement as the end of their hopes and demands for East Jerusalem as a capital of a future independent state. While few want a return to violence, many will feel diplomatic efforts have got them no closer to a state of their own. | Palestinians will see Trump’s announcement as the end of their hopes and demands for East Jerusalem as a capital of a future independent state. While few want a return to violence, many will feel diplomatic efforts have got them no closer to a state of their own. |
| The Israeli government will be thrilled. Ever since it captured (and later annexed) East Jerusalem in the 1967 six-day war, Israel has claimed the city as its “eternal and undivided” capital, and has longed for international recognition. Some 200,000 Israelis living in illegal settlements will also celebrate. | The Israeli government will be thrilled. Ever since it captured (and later annexed) East Jerusalem in the 1967 six-day war, Israel has claimed the city as its “eternal and undivided” capital, and has longed for international recognition. Some 200,000 Israelis living in illegal settlements will also celebrate. |
| Firing aimed at Israel from inside the Palestinian coastal enclave of Gaza that began after the announcement continued on Wednesday morning. The Israeli air force – which has killed four Palestinians in Gaza in recent strikes – retaliated, wounding several Palestinians. | Firing aimed at Israel from inside the Palestinian coastal enclave of Gaza that began after the announcement continued on Wednesday morning. The Israeli air force – which has killed four Palestinians in Gaza in recent strikes – retaliated, wounding several Palestinians. |
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