OIC's Jerusalem decision is 'historic': Deputy PM

ANKARA

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag on Thursday called the Organization of Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) Istanbul declaration, which recognized East Jerusalem as Palestine's capital, a "historic milestone".

"East Jerusalem is now the capital of the Palestinian state and all countries that attended the [OIC] summit have accepted the statement declaring Palestine's capital as East Jerusalem. This is historic milestone in the Palestinian cause, Palestinian matters and in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," Bozdag told Anadolu Agency.

Bozdag said the extraordinary Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit held in Istanbul on Wednesday stressed that U.S. President Donald Trump's decision on Jerusalem was "null and void".

The extraordinary summit and final declaration came in response to Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital last week.

Bozdag reiterated that Jerusalem was not only significant for Muslims but also for Christians.

The U.S. with its decision has lost its mediator role in the Israel-Palestine peace negotiations, Bozdag stated.

"The U.S. had a mediator role in the Palestine-Israel peace negotiations, and because the U.S. has taken Israel's side in the region and acted against a resolution that it also signed, this has caused it to lose their mediator role [...] The Palestinian cause has experienced a milestone and entered a new phase," he said.

He also stated that issues in the Middle East could only be resolved via the unity of Muslim countries.

"It is evident that unless the al-Quds [Jerusalem] matter is resolved, issues in the Middle East will not be resolved [...] It is highly important that the United Nations preserve the previous agreements taken."

The 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.

Reporting by Kemal Karadag:Writing by Merve Aydogan