Jordan king blasts ‘Trump Declaration’ at Istanbul meet

By Andac Hongur

ISTANBUL

Jordan’s King Abdullah II on Wednesday decried last week’s decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, warning the move would adversely affect peace and stability in the region.

“The U.S. move is really dangerous. We are sure it will affect both peace and stability,” the king said in an address delivered at Wednesday’s Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in Istanbul.

“Decisions made on Jerusalem are very dangerous and will impact the rights of the Palestinian people,” he said.

Any attempt to change the status of Arabs, Muslims and Christians in the flashpoint city, he added, “will only foster terrorism and extremism”.

Last week, Trump announced his decision -- despite widespread opposition -- to formally recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and relocate Washington's embassy from Tel Aviv to the holy city.

The announcement sparked strong condemnation from around the world, including Turkey, the EU and the UN.

Jerusalem remains at the core of the Israel-Palestine conflict, with Palestinians hoping that East Jerusalem -- now occupied by Israel -- might eventually serve as the capital of a future Palestinian state.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is the second-largest inter-governmental body after the United Nations, and its 57 member states spread over four continents.

It was established during a historic summit in Rabat, Morocco in 1969 following an arson attack on the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem.

Al-Aqsa was set on fire by an Australian Christian called Michael Denis Rohan on Aug. 21, 1969. The shrine and a 1,000-year-old pulpit were totally destroyed as well as several historical sites.

Rohan had joined a U.S.-based sect called “The Church of God” and believed that setting fire to Al-Aqsa would hasten the coming of the Messiah.

He was later declared mentally unstable and is reported to have died in psychiatric care in 1995.