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Heads of states and delegations of 56 countries have gathered in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, to discuss challenges that threaten the Islamic world. The Palestinian conflict is a top priority at the meeting. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation members say they will reject any deal that excludes Palestinian rights over the 1967 borders. Adel El Mahrouky has more from Mecca.
With civil wars and conflicts tearing its nations apart, and nearly 37% of its people under poverty line, the Islamic world is facing one of its most difficult times. Here in Makkah leaders gathered to discuss how to face these challenge together.
ABDEL FATTAH EL-SISI EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT "Without unity how can we face the unprecedented wave of instability and political tension and insecurity that threatens our Islamic world and portrays a negative image of our religion. There's no doubt that terrorism with all its forms and what follows from religious extremism comes on top of the challenges that we face."
Fifty years after its establishment, the organization of Islamic cooperation finds itself back to where it has started.
Its member states are still fighting for the prime conflict in the Islamic world, the Palestinian Crisis.
Next month the White House should announce a vision it believes would bring lasting peace. OIC, though, has already established its position from that unannounced peace plan.
MEVLUT CAVUSOGLU TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER "Any peace deal which doesn't provide a declaration of independence and sovereign state of Palestine, within the 1967 borders with Al Quds Al Sharif (Jerusalem) as its capital, will be rejected by the OIC community."
ADEL EL MAHROUKY MECCA, SAUDI ARABIA "The OIC summit ended with the Makkah declaration. A bundle of attractive phrases stating the necessity of creating an Islamic framework for cooperation in all aspects. It didn't, however, announce actionable steps to implement that agreed upon concept, Adel EL Mahrouky, CGTN, MAKKAH, SAUDI ARABIA."