US Move on Jerusalem Signals End of Commitment to Peace: OIC

Member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, OIC, have prepared a draft declaration stating that the U.S. government's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel signals an end to Washington's participation in the Middle East peace process. 

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The statement was read during a joint conference between OIC and the Non-Aligned Movement, NAM, currently being held in Istanbul, Turkey.

The declaration read, in part, that leaders, ministers and officials from over 50 Muslim countries “declare East Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Palestine, and invite all countries to recognize the State of Palestine and East Jerusalem as its occupied capital,” according to Reuters.

It condemned, "in the strongest terms,” U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to relocate his country's embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. In doing so, he declared the latter city “Israel's capital.”

The statement also characterized the U.S. decision as “a deliberate undermining of all peace efforts, an impetus (for) extremism and terrorism and a threat to international peace and security.”

Founded in 1969, OIC member states are tasked with representing the “collective voice of the Muslim world” and work to “safeguard and protect the interests” of all Muslims “in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony.”

After Israel occupied East Jerusalem during the 1967 war with Syria, Egypt and Jordan, it claimed the entirety of the city as being “united.” However, Palestinians have long proclaimed Al Quds, Jerusalem's name in Arabic, to be their future state capital.

Hence, they forewarned the U.S. government that any attempt at relocating their embassy to Jerusalem, apart from inflaming sentiments throughout the Muslim world, Christian communities and elsewhere, would undermine their role as an honest peace broker.

The move will make the United States the only country in the world to have its embassy located in Jerusalem.