Istanbul summit to call for recognition of E. Jerusalem

By Satuk Bugra Kutlugun and Nilay Kar Onum

ISTANBUL (AA) - Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states are expected to call on the world to recognize East Jerusalem as Palestine's capital during Wednesday’s Istanbul summit.

According to an official source, the 57-member OIC is expected to call for international recognition of East Jerusalem as Palestine's capital in a final communique.

During an address to OIC members, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also called on the world to recognize the holy city as Palestine's capital.

OIC member countries will be expecting a positive response from the international community over Jerusalem, which was last week recognized as Israel's capital by the U.S. President Donald Trump.

Jerusalem remains at the core of the Israel-Palestine conflict, with Palestinians hoping that East Jerusalem -- currently occupied by Israel -- will eventually become the capital of a Palestinian state.

The OIC is the second-largest inter-governmental body after the United Nations and 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 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.