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Turkey's President Erdogan says he will open an embassy in East Jerusalem | Turkey's President Erdogan says he will open an embassy in East Jerusalem |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Turkey will open an embassy in East Jerusalem, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said, days after leading calls at a summit of Muslim leaders for the world to recognise it as the capital of Palestine. | Turkey will open an embassy in East Jerusalem, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said, days after leading calls at a summit of Muslim leaders for the world to recognise it as the capital of Palestine. |
“God willing, the day is close when officially, with God’s permission, we will open our embassy there,” he said in a speech, while maintaining his fierce criticism of the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. | |
The Turkish leader has been one of the loudest voices in a global chorus of condemnation over Donald Trump’s announcement – that the US would break with decades of established foreign policy by relocating its embassy from Tel Aviv. | |
Mr Erdogan spoke about plans for a Turkish embassy in Jerusalem during a speech to his AK Party in the southern province of Karaman. | |
It come after Muslim world leaders this week called for the area to be recognised as the capital of an independent Palestinian state. | |
The draft, declaration by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), was issued following an extraordinary meeting of the 57-state group to hammer out a unified response to Mr Trump’s decision. | |
Turkey’s foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, said earlier this week that Turkey would open an embassy in East Jerusalem once the world recognised an independent Palestine. | |
It is not clear how Turkey would carry out the embassy move, as Israel controls all of Jerusalem and calls the city its indivisible capital. | It is not clear how Turkey would carry out the embassy move, as Israel controls all of Jerusalem and calls the city its indivisible capital. |
Israel annexed East Jerusalem in 1967 in a move that has never been recognised internationally. Both Israel and Palestine claim Jerusalem as their capital, and the city’s status remains a major stumbling block in peace talks. | Israel annexed East Jerusalem in 1967 in a move that has never been recognised internationally. Both Israel and Palestine claim Jerusalem as their capital, and the city’s status remains a major stumbling block in peace talks. |
Foreign embassies in Israel, including that of Turkey, are located in Tel Aviv, reflecting Jerusalem’s unresolved status. | Foreign embassies in Israel, including that of Turkey, are located in Tel Aviv, reflecting Jerusalem’s unresolved status. |
Mr Trump shocked even some of his county’s closest allies on 6 December by following though with a campaign promise to formally recognise the city – considered holy by Islam, Judaism and Christianity – as Israel’s undivided capital. | Mr Trump shocked even some of his county’s closest allies on 6 December by following though with a campaign promise to formally recognise the city – considered holy by Islam, Judaism and Christianity – as Israel’s undivided capital. |
Many world leaders voiced fears the controversial move would spark renewed violence in the region and wider Muslim world. | Many world leaders voiced fears the controversial move would spark renewed violence in the region and wider Muslim world. |
Protests have been held across the globe and four Palestinians killed in violent clashes with Israeli security forces in the West Bank and Gaza. | Protests have been held across the globe and four Palestinians killed in violent clashes with Israeli security forces in the West Bank and Gaza. |
“With their decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel‘s capital, the United States has become a partner in this bloodshed,” President Erdogan said earlier this week. | |
He had previously described Mr Trump’s decision as a “red line” for Muslims, and threatened to break off diplomatic relations with the US. | |
The United Nations Security Council is considering a draft resolution that would insist any decisions on the status of Jerusalem have no legal effect and must be rescinded. | The United Nations Security Council is considering a draft resolution that would insist any decisions on the status of Jerusalem have no legal effect and must be rescinded. |
It is thought to have broad support, but would likely be vetoed by the US. | It is thought to have broad support, but would likely be vetoed by the US. |