Erdogan vows to open embassy to Palestinian state in E Jerusalem

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to open an embassy to a Palestinian state in East Jerusalem, denouncing again the US decision to recognize the city as the capital of Israel.

His remarks came days after leading calls at a summit of Muslim leaders for the world to recognize it as the capital of Palestine.

It was not clear how he would carry out the move, as Israel controls all of Jerusalem and calls the city its indivisible capital. Palestinians want the capital of a future state they seek to be in East Jerusalem, which Israel took in a 1967 war and later annexed in a move not recognized internationally.

The Muslim nations summit was a response to US President Donald Trump's December 6 decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital. His move broke with decades of US policy and international consensus that the city's status must be left to Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations.

Erdogan said in a speech to members of his AK Party in the southern province of Karaman that Turkey's consulate general in Jerusalem was already represented by an ambassador.

"God willing, the day is close when officially, with God's permission, we will open our embassy there," Erdogan said.

Jerusalem, revered by Jews, Christians and Muslims alike, is home to Islam's third holiest shrine as well as Judaism's Western Wall – both in the eastern sector – and has been at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for decades.

A Palestinian demonstrator uses a slingshot to hurl stones towards Israeli troops during clashes at a protest against US President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, near the border with Israel in the east of Gaza City,‍ December 15, 2017. /Reuters Photo

Foreign embassies in Israel, including Turkey's, are located in Tel Aviv, reflecting Jerusalem's unresolved status.

A communique issued after Wednesday's summit of more than 50 Muslim countries, including US allies, termed Trump's move to be a declaration that Washington was withdrawing from its role "as sponsor of peace" in the Middle East.

The UN Security Council on Monday is expected to vote on a resolution to nullify any change to Jerusalem’s status.

The one-page Egyptian-drafted text did not specifically mention the United States or Trump. Diplomats said the move is likely to face a Washington veto.

US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has praised Trump’s decision as “the just and right thing to do.”

Arab foreign ministers agreed to seek a UN Security Council resolution on the issue. The draft UN text expresses “deep regret at recent decisions concerning the status of Jerusalem.”

It “affirms that any decisions and actions which purport to have altered the character, status or demographic composition of the Holy City of Jerusalem have no legal effect, are null and void and must be rescinded in compliance with relevant resolutions of the Security Council.”

The draft also calls upon all countries to refrain from establishing diplomatic missions in Jerusalem.

(With input from CGTN's Adel El-Mahrouky)

Source(s): AP ,Reuters