OIC Summit Calls on US to Revoke Decision on Jerusalem

Jakarta, (Antara) - The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (oic) during an Extraordinary Islamic Summit held in Istanbul, Turkey, on Wednesday, called on the United States to revoke its decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

In a press release received here on Friday, OIC Secretary General Yousef Al-Othaimeen stated that the Extraordinary Summit bears acute significance particularly as to the centrality of the cause of Palestine and Al Quds (Jerusalem) for the entire Muslim Ummah, considering the US administration's unilateral decision a downright aggression on the city's sacrosanct identity and Arab character.

"The OIC uncompromisingly rejects the US move as an act which constitutes a clear violation of international law, deals a heavy blow to international relations and runs counter to the spirit of the UN Charter and relevant UN resolutions," Al-Othaimeen said.

By Taking this move, the US is breaking the international consensus regarding the political, legal, and historical status of Al-Quds Al-Sharif, he added.

The Islamic countries also affirmed their condemnation and rejection of US' decision and announcement to relocate the American embassy to Jerusalem.

In its Final Communique, the Summit held the US administration fully responsible for any repercussions of it refusing to disavow this unlawful decision, taking it as a clear desertion by the US administration of its role as peace broker.

The Summit also dismissed the decision as a gift to Israel for its continuous renouncement of agreements and blatant breach to international legitimacy.

Furthermore, the Summit called the OIC member states to impose political and economic restrictions on States, officials, parliaments, companies and individuals recognizing Israeli annexation of Al-Quds Al-Sharif, or engaging in any form with measures aimed at perpetuating Israeli colonization of the occupied Palestinian territories.

On the need to internationalize peace, the Communique called on international actors to promote a multilateral political process, to resume an internationally sponsored, credible process to achieve lasting peace based on the Two-State solution.

Meanwhile, Indonesian President Joko Widodo also called the OIC member states to reject Trump's decision over Jerusalem and said the recognition is unacceptable.

"Trump's decision is unacceptable and must be strongly rejected," President Widodo said during a speech at the OIC Summit.

The Indonesian President said that the US' unjust decision has shunned the hope for independence of Palestinian people and has diminished the hope for lasting peace.

Widodo hoped that the OIC would be able to become a motor for the movement in various international and multilateral forums to support the Palestinians, including in the UN Security Council and General Assembly.(*)