OIC agrees to recognize East Jerusalem as Palestinian capital

Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states issued final communique Wednesday, recognizing Palestine as a state with East Jerusalem as its capital following an extraordinary summit meeting in Istanbul called on by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The final communique also called on the world to recognize East Jerusalem as the occupied capital of Palestinian state and condemned the U.S. administration's "unlawful" decision on Jerusalem's status.

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.

More to follow...