Turkey Hosts Islamic Summit On Trump’s Jerusalem Decision

Turkey is hosting an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, in a bid to mobilize the Muslim world in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Leaders from countries including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iran, Pakistan, Malaysia, Tunisia and Indonesia, among others, are attending the Istanbul summit. Palestinian Ambassador to Turkey Fa’ed Mustafa told The Media Line that the PA’s goal is to create a unified front that will be able to implement a series of steps to pressure Washington to reconsider its decision and forestall the relocation of the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. It comes as Israeli forces overnight conducted wide scale raids in the West Bank, arresting dozens of Palestinians including Sheikh Hassan Yousef, a founding member of Hamas, who are suspected of planning terrorist attacks or fueling the rioting that has persisted since President Trump’s announcement. Yousef, who was recently released from administrative detention, earlier this week called for a violent response to the American move. Hamas leader Ismael Haniyeh has likewise urged Palestinians to ignite a third Intifada, or popular uprising, leading to the ramping up of tensions in and around the Gaza Strip. Early Wednesday morning, Israeli jets for the third day in a row struck Hamas assets in the Palestinian enclave in retaliation to rocket fire. On Sunday, a Hamas attack tunnel stretching hundreds of meters into Israeli territory was destroyed.