Home

  • New York (AFP) - 12/13/2017 - 22:13

    Dow ends at record on tax bill progress, Fed outlook

  • Beirut (AFP) - 12/13/2017 - 21:45

    US-led air strikes kill 23 civilians in Syria: monitor

  • Washington (AFP) - 12/13/2017 - 21:19

    Fed's Yellen says no risks to stability 'flashing red' as markets boom

  • London (AFP) - 12/13/2017 - 20:23

    May loses key Brexit vote in British parliament

  • Washington (AFP) - 12/13/2017 - 20:07

    US Fed raises key interest rate amid strong labor market

  • Vienna (AFP) - 12/13/2017 - 20:03

    Austrian airline Niki says to stop flying Thursday

  • Jerusalem (AFP) - 12/13/2017 - 18:18

    Netanyahu 'not impressed' by Muslim leaders' Jerusalem statements

  • Brussels (AFP) - 12/13/2017 - 15:58

    Paris suspect Abdeslam's lawyer asks for Belgian trial to be postponed: source

  • Istanbul (AFP) - 12/13/2017 - 15:36

    Erdogan accuses Trump of 'Zionist mentality' over Jerusalem recognition

  • Paris (AFP) - 12/13/2017 - 15:01

    S.Arabia, UAE pledge $130 mn for Sahel anti-terror force

  • Washington (AFP) - 12/13/2017 - 14:39

    Energy costs push US consumer inflation above Fed target to 2.2%

  • Istanbul (AFP) - 12/13/2017 - 14:28

    Muslim leaders urge recognition of East Jerusalem as Palestine capital: statement

  • Strasbourg (France) (AFP) - 12/13/2017 - 13:47

    EU Parliament backs opening next round of Brexit talks: president

  • Riyadh (AFP) - 12/13/2017 - 12:26

    Palestinians have right to east Jerusalem as capital: Saudi king

  • Moscow (AFP) - 12/13/2017 - 10:53

    Kremlin welcomes 'constructive' US position on N. Korea talks

  • Istanbul (AFP) - 12/13/2017 - 10:17

    Abbas warns 'no peace or stability' without Jerusalem as Palestinian capital

  • Istanbul (AFP) - 12/13/2017 - 10:10

    Erdogan urges world to recognise East Jerusalem as 'capital of Palestine'

  • Sanaa (AFP) - 12/13/2017 - 09:53

    Strikes kill 12 in rebel-run Yemen prison camp: rebel TV

  • Istanbul (AFP) - 12/13/2017 - 09:48

    Israel a state of 'occupation' and 'terror', Erdogan tells Islamic leaders

  • Montgomery (United States) (AFP) - 12/13/2017 - 04:38

    Alabama Democrat Jones projected to win US Senate race

  • United Nations (United States) (AFP) - 12/13/2017 - 01:37

    UN envoy says North Korea agrees on need 'to prevent war'

  • Seoul (AFP) - 12/12/2017 - 23:28

    Kim vows to make N.Korea 'world's strongest nuclear power': KCNA

  • Washington (AFP) - 12/12/2017 - 22:45

    US ready for North Korea talks 'without preconditions'

  • New York (AFP) - 12/12/2017 - 22:08

    Dow, S&P 500 end at records as banking shares gain

  • Sao Paulo (AFP) - 12/12/2017 - 21:41

    Brazil court to rule on Lula jail sentence Jan 24

  • Monrovia (AFP) - 12/12/2017 - 18:56

    Liberia presidential runoff set for Dec 26: election panel

  • Caracas (AFP) - 12/12/2017 - 18:01

    Venezuela's ex-oil boss under investigation for graft

  • Paris (AFP) - 12/12/2017 - 16:33

    'We're losing the battle', Macron tells Paris climate talks

  • Paris (AFP) - 12/12/2017 - 16:26

    With fossil fuel subsidies, humanity investing in 'own doom': UN chief

  • Moscow (AFP) - 12/12/2017 - 16:19

    Russia suspends diplomatic presence in Yemen

  • London (AFP) - 12/12/2017 - 15:43

    Ireland-based Ryanair pilots to strike on December 20

  • Brussels (AFP) - 12/12/2017 - 13:44

    Stoltenberg reappointed as NATO chief until 2020: statement

  • Paris (AFP) - 12/12/2017 - 13:28

    World Bank to stop financing oil, gas projects from 2019

  • Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - 12/12/2017 - 13:22

    Two Palestinians killed in Gaza, Israel denies claim of attack

  • Juba (AFP) - 12/12/2017 - 12:54

    S.Sudan clashes leave more than 170 dead: lawmaker

  • Paris (AFP) - 12/12/2017 - 12:00

    Macron calls for 'much stronger mobilisation' on climate

  • Phnom Penh (AFP) - 12/12/2017 - 11:23

    EU pulls support for Cambodia poll after opposition dissolved

  • Tehran (AFP) - 12/12/2017 - 10:18

    Magnitude 6.2 quake hits southeastern Iran: seismological centre

  • Vienna (AFP) - 12/12/2017 - 09:51

    Explosion at major Austrian gas hub, 'several' hurt

  • Paris (AFP) - 12/12/2017 - 08:14

    France's Unibail-Rodamco to buy Australia's Westfield: statement

  • Washington (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 23:11

    Trump wants Congress to fix 'lax' immigration after NY attack

  • Sydney (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 23:10

    ANZ Bank sells life insurance arm to Zurich for US$2.14 bn

  • Washington (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 21:25

    Trump tells NASA to send Americans to Moon

  • New York (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 18:34

    Apple to buy song recognition app Shazam

  • London (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 17:05

    Brexit deal shows UK can leave EU in 'smooth and orderly' way: May

  • United Nations (United States) (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 15:55

    China fails to block UN meeting on North Korea human rights

  • New York (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 15:25

    Four hurt in New York explosion, none life-threatening

  • Paris (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 15:11

    Man held over jihadist murders of French police couple

  • Cairo (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 15:11

    Putin calls for Mideast talks to resume, including on Jerusalem

  • Los Angeles (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 14:55

    'The Shape of Water' leads Golden Globe nominations with seven

  • Cairo (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 14:35

    Cairo, Moscow sign contract for Egypt's first nuclear plant

  • New York (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 14:03

    Police responding to explosion of 'unknown origin' in Manhattan

  • Moscow (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 11:18

    Putin orders partial withdrawal of Russian troops from Syria: agencies

  • New Delhi (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 11:10

    India's Congress party names Rahul Gandhi president

  • Moscow (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 11:06

    Putin in surprise visit to Russia's airbase in Syria

  • Riyadh (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 09:43

    Saudi Arabia lifts ban on cinemas: government

  • Brussels (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 08:50

    Recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital 'makes peace possible': Netanyahu

  • Brussels (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 08:46

    EU's Mogherini condemns 'all attacks on Jews everywhere'

  • Manila (Philippines) (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 05:35

    Philippines' Duterte seeks martial law extension for south

  • New York (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 00:28

    Bitcoin makes stock exchange debut at $15,000 Bitcoin makes debut on major stock exchange at $15,000 per unit Bitcoin makes debut on major stock exchange at $15,000 per unit

  • Caracas (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 00:11

    Main opposition parties barred from next presidential vote: Venezuela's Maduro

Home

  • New York (AFP) - 12/13/2017 - 22:13

    Dow ends at record on tax bill progress, Fed outlook

  • Beirut (AFP) - 12/13/2017 - 21:45

    US-led air strikes kill 23 civilians in Syria: monitor

  • Washington (AFP) - 12/13/2017 - 21:19

    Fed's Yellen says no risks to stability 'flashing red' as markets boom

  • London (AFP) - 12/13/2017 - 20:23

    May loses key Brexit vote in British parliament

  • Washington (AFP) - 12/13/2017 - 20:07

    US Fed raises key interest rate amid strong labor market

  • Vienna (AFP) - 12/13/2017 - 20:03

    Austrian airline Niki says to stop flying Thursday

  • Jerusalem (AFP) - 12/13/2017 - 18:18

    Netanyahu 'not impressed' by Muslim leaders' Jerusalem statements

  • Brussels (AFP) - 12/13/2017 - 15:58

    Paris suspect Abdeslam's lawyer asks for Belgian trial to be postponed: source

  • Istanbul (AFP) - 12/13/2017 - 15:36

    Erdogan accuses Trump of 'Zionist mentality' over Jerusalem recognition

  • Paris (AFP) - 12/13/2017 - 15:01

    S.Arabia, UAE pledge $130 mn for Sahel anti-terror force

  • Washington (AFP) - 12/13/2017 - 14:39

    Energy costs push US consumer inflation above Fed target to 2.2%

  • Istanbul (AFP) - 12/13/2017 - 14:28

    Muslim leaders urge recognition of East Jerusalem as Palestine capital: statement

  • Strasbourg (France) (AFP) - 12/13/2017 - 13:47

    EU Parliament backs opening next round of Brexit talks: president

  • Riyadh (AFP) - 12/13/2017 - 12:26

    Palestinians have right to east Jerusalem as capital: Saudi king

  • Moscow (AFP) - 12/13/2017 - 10:53

    Kremlin welcomes 'constructive' US position on N. Korea talks

  • Istanbul (AFP) - 12/13/2017 - 10:17

    Abbas warns 'no peace or stability' without Jerusalem as Palestinian capital

  • Istanbul (AFP) - 12/13/2017 - 10:10

    Erdogan urges world to recognise East Jerusalem as 'capital of Palestine'

  • Sanaa (AFP) - 12/13/2017 - 09:53

    Strikes kill 12 in rebel-run Yemen prison camp: rebel TV

  • Istanbul (AFP) - 12/13/2017 - 09:48

    Israel a state of 'occupation' and 'terror', Erdogan tells Islamic leaders

  • Montgomery (United States) (AFP) - 12/13/2017 - 04:38

    Alabama Democrat Jones projected to win US Senate race

  • United Nations (United States) (AFP) - 12/13/2017 - 01:37

    UN envoy says North Korea agrees on need 'to prevent war'

  • Seoul (AFP) - 12/12/2017 - 23:28

    Kim vows to make N.Korea 'world's strongest nuclear power': KCNA

  • Washington (AFP) - 12/12/2017 - 22:45

    US ready for North Korea talks 'without preconditions'

  • New York (AFP) - 12/12/2017 - 22:08

    Dow, S&P 500 end at records as banking shares gain

  • Sao Paulo (AFP) - 12/12/2017 - 21:41

    Brazil court to rule on Lula jail sentence Jan 24

  • Monrovia (AFP) - 12/12/2017 - 18:56

    Liberia presidential runoff set for Dec 26: election panel

  • Caracas (AFP) - 12/12/2017 - 18:01

    Venezuela's ex-oil boss under investigation for graft

  • Paris (AFP) - 12/12/2017 - 16:33

    'We're losing the battle', Macron tells Paris climate talks

  • Paris (AFP) - 12/12/2017 - 16:26

    With fossil fuel subsidies, humanity investing in 'own doom': UN chief

  • Moscow (AFP) - 12/12/2017 - 16:19

    Russia suspends diplomatic presence in Yemen

  • London (AFP) - 12/12/2017 - 15:43

    Ireland-based Ryanair pilots to strike on December 20

  • Brussels (AFP) - 12/12/2017 - 13:44

    Stoltenberg reappointed as NATO chief until 2020: statement

  • Paris (AFP) - 12/12/2017 - 13:28

    World Bank to stop financing oil, gas projects from 2019

  • Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - 12/12/2017 - 13:22

    Two Palestinians killed in Gaza, Israel denies claim of attack

  • Juba (AFP) - 12/12/2017 - 12:54

    S.Sudan clashes leave more than 170 dead: lawmaker

  • Paris (AFP) - 12/12/2017 - 12:00

    Macron calls for 'much stronger mobilisation' on climate

  • Phnom Penh (AFP) - 12/12/2017 - 11:23

    EU pulls support for Cambodia poll after opposition dissolved

  • Tehran (AFP) - 12/12/2017 - 10:18

    Magnitude 6.2 quake hits southeastern Iran: seismological centre

  • Vienna (AFP) - 12/12/2017 - 09:51

    Explosion at major Austrian gas hub, 'several' hurt

  • Paris (AFP) - 12/12/2017 - 08:14

    France's Unibail-Rodamco to buy Australia's Westfield: statement

  • Washington (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 23:11

    Trump wants Congress to fix 'lax' immigration after NY attack

  • Sydney (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 23:10

    ANZ Bank sells life insurance arm to Zurich for US$2.14 bn

  • Washington (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 21:25

    Trump tells NASA to send Americans to Moon

  • New York (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 18:34

    Apple to buy song recognition app Shazam

  • London (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 17:05

    Brexit deal shows UK can leave EU in 'smooth and orderly' way: May

  • United Nations (United States) (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 15:55

    China fails to block UN meeting on North Korea human rights

  • New York (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 15:25

    Four hurt in New York explosion, none life-threatening

  • Paris (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 15:11

    Man held over jihadist murders of French police couple

  • Cairo (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 15:11

    Putin calls for Mideast talks to resume, including on Jerusalem

  • Los Angeles (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 14:55

    'The Shape of Water' leads Golden Globe nominations with seven

  • Cairo (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 14:35

    Cairo, Moscow sign contract for Egypt's first nuclear plant

  • New York (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 14:03

    Police responding to explosion of 'unknown origin' in Manhattan

  • Moscow (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 11:18

    Putin orders partial withdrawal of Russian troops from Syria: agencies

  • New Delhi (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 11:10

    India's Congress party names Rahul Gandhi president

  • Moscow (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 11:06

    Putin in surprise visit to Russia's airbase in Syria

  • Riyadh (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 09:43

    Saudi Arabia lifts ban on cinemas: government

  • Brussels (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 08:50

    Recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital 'makes peace possible': Netanyahu

  • Brussels (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 08:46

    EU's Mogherini condemns 'all attacks on Jews everywhere'

  • Manila (Philippines) (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 05:35

    Philippines' Duterte seeks martial law extension for south

  • New York (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 00:28

    Bitcoin makes stock exchange debut at $15,000 Bitcoin makes debut on major stock exchange at $15,000 per unit Bitcoin makes debut on major stock exchange at $15,000 per unit

  • Caracas (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 00:11

    Main opposition parties barred from next presidential vote: Venezuela's Maduro

You are here

News

Islamic leaders urge East Jerusalem recognition as 'Palestine's capital'

AFP / YASIN AKGUL Erdogan, whose country holds the rotating chairmanship of the OIC, convened the emergency summit of Muslim leaders to denounce Trump's move

Islamic leaders on Wednesday urged the world to recognise occupied East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine, as Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas warned the United States no longer had any role to play in the peace process.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan convened in Istanbul an emergency summit of the world's main pan-Islamic body, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), seeking a tough response to the recognition by US President Donald Trump of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

With the Islamic world itself mired in division, the summit fell well short of agreeing any concrete sanction against Israel or the United States.

But their final statement declared "East Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Palestine" and invited "all countries to recognise the State of Palestine and East Jerusalem as its occupied capital."

They declared Trump's decision "null and void legally" and "a deliberate undermining of all peace efforts" that would give impetus to "extremism and terrorism."

The status of Jerusalem, a city holy to Christians, Jews and Muslims, is perhaps the most sensitive issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Israel sees the entire city as its undivided capital, while the Palestinians want the eastern sector, which the international community regards as annexed by Israel, as the capital of their future state.

Erdogan -- who sees himself a champion of the Palestinian cause -- sought to underline his point with a powerpoint map presentation, flashing a laser pointer at how Palestinian territory had shrunk since the 1948 creation of Israel.

"The real proprietor of these lands is Palestine," he told the final press conference.

"Mr Trump wants all this to be Israel. This is the product of an evangelist and Zionist mentality," said Erdogan, the current chair of the OIC.

- 'No more role for US' -

TURKISH PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE/AFP / KAYHAN OZER Rouhani, whose country does not recognise Israel and has dire relations with Saudi Arabia, was among the leaders attending.

Using unusually strong language and bitterly anti-American rhetoric, Abbas warned that there could be "no peace or stability" in the Middle East until Jerusalem is recognised as the capital of a Palestinian state.

Moreover, he said that with Trump's move the United States had withdrawn itself from a traditional role as the mediator in the search for Mideast peace.

"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 final statement from the OIC echoed his words, saying Trump's move was "an announcement of the US administration's withdrawal from its role as sponsor of peace" in the Middle East.

Erdogan added that there can no longer be "any question" of the United States being a mediator. "This period is now over," he said bluntly.

Successive US administrations have sought unsuccessfully to broker a final peace deal since the 1990s Oslo accords. Trump, too, is working on such an offer through his son-in-law Jared Kushner.

- Saudi snub? -

But bridging the gaps between 57 OIC member states -- who include arch rivals Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shiite Iran -- was always a tall order.

TURKISH PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE/AFP / KAYHAN OZER A surprise guest was Venezuela's leftist President Nicolas Maduro whose country has no significant Muslim population but is a bitter critic of US policy.

Key players, like Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, were unlikely to want to risk their key relationship with Washington by putting their name to anti-American measures.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Jordanian King Abdullah II and Lebanese President Michel Aoun were among the heads of state present, as well as the emirs of Qatar and Kuwait and presidents of Afghanistan and Indonesia.

But there was no sign of Saudi King Salman or his powerful crown prince and son Mohammed bin Salman, who has reportedly been in close contact with Trump over the Middle East. Instead, Riyadh sent a senior foreign ministry official.

"Some countries in our region are in cooperation with the United States and the Zionist regime and determining the fate of Palestine," seethed Rouhani, whose country does not recognise Israel and has dire relations with Saudi Arabia.

But as the summit was being held, King Salman echoed the calls over Jerusalem in an address in Riyadh, saying it was the "right" of the Palestinians to establish "their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital".

TURKISH PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE/AFP / KAYHAN ÖZER Abbas warned that the United States has lost its role as the mediator in the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for genocide and war crimes, was also in attendance and warmly greeted by Erdogan.

A surprise guest was Venezuela's leftist President Nicolas Maduro whose country has no significant Muslim population but is a bitter critic of US policy.

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 the Jewish state and show solidarity with the Palestinians.

The decision sparked protests in Palestinian territories, with four Palestinians killed so far in clashes or Israeli air strikes in response to rocket fire from Gaza and hundreds wounded.

Home

News

News

Islamic leaders urge East Jerusalem recognition as 'Palestine's capital'

AFP / YASIN AKGUL Erdogan, whose country holds the rotating chairmanship of the OIC, convened the emergency summit of Muslim leaders to denounce Trump's move

Islamic leaders on Wednesday urged the world to recognise occupied East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine, as Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas warned the United States no longer had any role to play in the peace process.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan convened in Istanbul an emergency summit of the world's main pan-Islamic body, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), seeking a tough response to the recognition by US President Donald Trump of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

With the Islamic world itself mired in division, the summit fell well short of agreeing any concrete sanction against Israel or the United States.

But their final statement declared "East Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Palestine" and invited "all countries to recognise the State of Palestine and East Jerusalem as its occupied capital."

They declared Trump's decision "null and void legally" and "a deliberate undermining of all peace efforts" that would give impetus to "extremism and terrorism."

The status of Jerusalem, a city holy to Christians, Jews and Muslims, is perhaps the most sensitive issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Israel sees the entire city as its undivided capital, while the Palestinians want the eastern sector, which the international community regards as annexed by Israel, as the capital of their future state.

Erdogan -- who sees himself a champion of the Palestinian cause -- sought to underline his point with a powerpoint map presentation, flashing a laser pointer at how Palestinian territory had shrunk since the 1948 creation of Israel.

"The real proprietor of these lands is Palestine," he told the final press conference.

"Mr Trump wants all this to be Israel. This is the product of an evangelist and Zionist mentality," said Erdogan, the current chair of the OIC.

- 'No more role for US' -

TURKISH PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE/AFP / KAYHAN OZER Rouhani, whose country does not recognise Israel and has dire relations with Saudi Arabia, was among the leaders attending.

Using unusually strong language and bitterly anti-American rhetoric, Abbas warned that there could be "no peace or stability" in the Middle East until Jerusalem is recognised as the capital of a Palestinian state.

Moreover, he said that with Trump's move the United States had withdrawn itself from a traditional role as the mediator in the search for Mideast peace.

"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 final statement from the OIC echoed his words, saying Trump's move was "an announcement of the US administration's withdrawal from its role as sponsor of peace" in the Middle East.

Erdogan added that there can no longer be "any question" of the United States being a mediator. "This period is now over," he said bluntly.

Successive US administrations have sought unsuccessfully to broker a final peace deal since the 1990s Oslo accords. Trump, too, is working on such an offer through his son-in-law Jared Kushner.

- Saudi snub? -

But bridging the gaps between 57 OIC member states -- who include arch rivals Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shiite Iran -- was always a tall order.

TURKISH PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE/AFP / KAYHAN OZER A surprise guest was Venezuela's leftist President Nicolas Maduro whose country has no significant Muslim population but is a bitter critic of US policy.

Key players, like Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, were unlikely to want to risk their key relationship with Washington by putting their name to anti-American measures.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Jordanian King Abdullah II and Lebanese President Michel Aoun were among the heads of state present, as well as the emirs of Qatar and Kuwait and presidents of Afghanistan and Indonesia.

But there was no sign of Saudi King Salman or his powerful crown prince and son Mohammed bin Salman, who has reportedly been in close contact with Trump over the Middle East. Instead, Riyadh sent a senior foreign ministry official.

"Some countries in our region are in cooperation with the United States and the Zionist regime and determining the fate of Palestine," seethed Rouhani, whose country does not recognise Israel and has dire relations with Saudi Arabia.

But as the summit was being held, King Salman echoed the calls over Jerusalem in an address in Riyadh, saying it was the "right" of the Palestinians to establish "their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital".

TURKISH PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE/AFP / KAYHAN ÖZER Abbas warned that the United States has lost its role as the mediator in the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for genocide and war crimes, was also in attendance and warmly greeted by Erdogan.

A surprise guest was Venezuela's leftist President Nicolas Maduro whose country has no significant Muslim population but is a bitter critic of US policy.

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 the Jewish state and show solidarity with the Palestinians.

The decision sparked protests in Palestinian territories, with four Palestinians killed so far in clashes or Israeli air strikes in response to rocket fire from Gaza and hundreds wounded.

AFP / YASIN AKGUL Erdogan, whose country holds the rotating chairmanship of the OIC, convened the emergency summit of Muslim leaders to denounce Trump's move

Islamic leaders on Wednesday urged the world to recognise occupied East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine, as Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas warned the United States no longer had any role to play in the peace process.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan convened in Istanbul an emergency summit of the world's main pan-Islamic body, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), seeking a tough response to the recognition by US President Donald Trump of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

TURKISH PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE/AFP / KAYHAN OZER Rouhani, whose country does not recognise Israel and has dire relations with Saudi Arabia, was among the leaders attending.

Using unusually strong language and bitterly anti-American rhetoric, Abbas warned that there could be "no peace or stability" in the Middle East until Jerusalem is recognised as the capital of a Palestinian state.

Moreover, he said that with Trump's move the United States had withdrawn itself from a traditional role as the mediator in the search for Mideast peace.

TURKISH PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE/AFP / KAYHAN OZER A surprise guest was Venezuela's leftist President Nicolas Maduro whose country has no significant Muslim population but is a bitter critic of US policy.

Key players, like Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, were unlikely to want to risk their key relationship with Washington by putting their name to anti-American measures.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Jordanian King Abdullah II and Lebanese President Michel Aoun were among the heads of state present, as well as the emirs of Qatar and Kuwait and presidents of Afghanistan and Indonesia.

TURKISH PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE/AFP / KAYHAN ÖZER Abbas warned that the United States has lost its role as the mediator in the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for genocide and war crimes, was also in attendance and warmly greeted by Erdogan.

A surprise guest was Venezuela's leftist President Nicolas Maduro whose country has no significant Muslim population but is a bitter critic of US policy.

13 Dec 2017

AFP's worldwide network

The global network of Agence France Presse covers 151 countries

Find out more

Contact us

If you have news to share or a question, comment or suggestion, contact us via...

If you have news to share or a question, comment or suggestion, contact us via...
  • MAIL
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

    • Subsidiaries