Recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital Is Red Line for Muslims, Erdogan Warns

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that President Donald Trump’s plan to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel is a red line for Muslims and warned that that would force his country to cut off all diplomatic ties with Israel, Fox News reports.

Erdogan added that he would convene a summit meeting of countries of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation, an umbrella organization of Muslim Countries, to oppose the move. The organization also said that the move would be a “naked aggression” against the Arab and Muslim world.

American officials said that the recognition could happen this week despite calls from the Middle East and Europe for reconsideration of the move. Some say that if U.S. recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, that will impede the possibility of the peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians.

The diplomatic adviser of President Mahmoud Abbas said that the Palestinian leadership will stop contacts with the U.S. and Palestinian officials called for mass protests. U.S. and foreign officials fear that the recognition could unleash violence.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron during a phone call told Trump that he was worried and asked him to reconsider the plan for recognition.

“Mr. Macron reaffirmed that the status of Jerusalem must be resolved through peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians, particularly those relating to the establishment of two states,” Macron’s office said.

Israel captured east Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war, annexed it, and declared the whole of the city as its capital in a move that has not been recognized internationally, British Independent reminds. Palestinian leaders and Israel want Jerusalem as their capital.

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