Azerbaijan: US should review Jerusalem decision

By Ruslan Rehimov

BAKU

Azerbaijan on Wednesday called on the U.S. to review its decision on Jerusalem.

"The U.S. has to review its decision on Jerusalem," Azebaijani President Ilham Aliyev said in an address delivered at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in Istanbul.

Aliyev said this decision will have a negative impact on the Palestinian peace process and have dangerous consequences for the Middle East.

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.

Aliyev also thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for organizing the summit.

The communique came after Muslims leaders, including Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, gathered at an extraordinary summit of the OIC.

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.

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.