ISTANBUL: All eyes, especially the Muslim world's, are now focused on the extraordinary Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit relating to the latest Palestine-Israel conflict following the United States government's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Muslims are putting high hopes on the outcome of the summit, which comprises 57 nation members.
It is not only the Muslims, but the world is also watching and awaiting the details of the Istanbul Declaration, expected to be announced tomorrow (Dec 13).
The OIC leaders will gather at the Lutfi Kirdar Congress Centre for the summit convened by Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is also the OIC chairman, hoping to reach a consensus on the issue which had been greatly criticised, especially by the Muslims.
The OIC has officially agreed on the United Nations' two-state solution as the only viable way to resolve the Israel-Palestine conflict.
When US President Donald Trump conveyed his support and instructed the US Embassy to be moved to Jerusalem, it triggered a new conflict and uproar among the Muslims, which could jeopardise the long-standing peace plan without reaching any solution.
According to a statement issued by the OIC, senior officers and foreign ministers have their meetings today (Dec 12) and will continue tomorrow morning to reach a consensus on the issue at hand and to deliberate on the US' action, which would later be decided by the country heads to reflect the OIC's stand on the matter.
Legal aspects, political status and the history following the occupation of the holy city and Palestine as a whole were among the issues discussed.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is leading the Malaysian delegation to the extraordinary OIC summit in Istanbul.
Accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman and senior government officials, the prime minister is scheduled to arrive tonight.
Malaysia's participation at the summit reflects the country's commitment and unwavering support for the Palestinians in their pursuit to attain their legitimate and inalienable rights for an independent State of Palestine based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The summit will start with Erdogan's speech followed by OIC secretary-general Dr Yousef Ahmad Al-Othaimeen and Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas.
Later, the OIC delegation heads including Najib are scheduled to make statements followed by the adoption of the Draft Final Communique of the extraordinary Islamic Summit conference on the US administration's recognition of the occupied City of Al-Quds Ash-Sharif as the so-called capital of Israel, the Occupying Power and decision to transfer the US Embassy to Al-Quds.
This will be followed by the adoption of the Istanbul Declaration.
Meanwhile, Adnan al-Husayni, the Jerusalem governor of the Palestinian Authority, has suggested that the OIC should declare Jerusalem as the capital of the state of Palestine in response to Trump's action.
He was quoted by the Hürriyet Daily News on Saturday as saying that such a declaration could have a very strong impact on a political level.
“He (Trump) wanted to show he is helpful to the Zionists and the Israelis. But it is within our capacity to speak about the future of Jerusalem, not Trump,” al-Husayni told the Turkish English-language daily.
The governor had vowed that the intifada would continue until positive steps are taken.
Al-Husainy made it clear that Tel Aviv and Trump must retract their decisions and the extraordinary OIC summit will not only be a beacon of hope for the Palestinians, but also to all Muslims and the world community.