Global Geo-political Series: Turkey likely to lead resistance to Trump’s Jerusalem decision

United States’ President Donald Trump’s unilateral recognition of the city of Jerusalem as Israel capital last week met with angry reactions from world leaders, drawing strong criticism in the Middle East and elsewhere.

Here is how some leaders have reacted,

Here is how the world leaders are reacting,

• Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian Authority President denounced Trump’s decision and stated that Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Palestine.
• Michel Aoun, Lebanon's president, condemned the decision adding that it threatens the peace process and stability in the wider Middle East.
• Mohammad al-Momani, spokesperson for the Jordanian government called the decision illegal as it consolidates Israel’s occupation of East Jerusalem.
• Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar's foreign minister, said that Trump's decision was a "death sentence" for all who seek peace and "a dangerous escalation".
• The French president, Emmanuel Macron, said on Twitter that France doesn't approve of the decision and supports the two-state solution, Israel, and Palestine, living in peace and security, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states.
• Pakistan’s Prime Minister’s office said in a statement that it noted the U.S. decision with grave concern since the decision alters the legal and historical status of the city and such a step constitutes a clear violation of international law and UN Security Council resolutions.
• UK’s Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn tweeted, “Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, including occupied Palestinian territory, is a reckless threat to peace. The British Government must condemn this dangerous act and work for a just and viable settlement of the conflict.”
• Federica Mogherini, foreign policy chief of the European Union, said the EU has "serious concern about today’s announcement by the United States President Trump on Jerusalem and the repercussions this may have on the prospect of peace".
• UK Prime Minister, Theresa May, expressed disagreement with Trump's decision.

However, none of the criticism was as harsh as that of Turkish President Recep Tayipp Erdogan’s (maybe only next to Iran’s), who initially said that it is important to protect the current status quo in Jerusalem and it is important for the Islamic world to act as one. He stepped up his criticism since then. During an address last Sunday, he called Israel a child murderer state, “Jerusalem is the apple of our eye. We will not abandon it to the child-murderer state. We will not abandon it to an occupier state," Erdogan said in an address in the Turkish city of Sivas. We will continue our struggle within law and democracy. In Istanbul, we will unite Islamic countries, leaders, and heads of states. Our roadmap will show that it will not be easy for them to realize their plans".

His harsh remarks were countered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said, “I'm not used to receiving lectures about morality from a leader who bombs Kurdish villagers in his native turkey, who jails journalists, who helps Iran go around international sanctions, and who helps terrorists, including in Gaza, kill innocent people. That is not the man who is going to lecture us.”

Turkey is determined to lead the resistance against the U.S. move. On December 6, Erdogan invited the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to an emergency meeting in Istanbul. Ibrahim Kalin, the president’s spokesperson, said Erdogan had spoken with PA President Mahmoud Abbas and other Muslim heads of state in Qatar, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Malaysia, Tunisia and Indonesia. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is scheduled to attend the Istanbul summit and deliver a speech. The President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, is likely to attend, as is Lebanese President Michael Aoun. King Abdullah of Jordan, who was just in Turkey, is also expected to attend. On Monday, Abbas went to Cairo to meet with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flew to Paris.

The outcome of this summit would be crucial.