Yildirim calls for Muslim unity on Jerusalem

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim on Monday called on Muslim countries to unite against the U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as the Israeli capital.

“Palestinians are never alone against this unfair, unlawful and arrogant decision,” he told parliament.

“Islamic countries should move in unity against the U.S. move.”

He said Turkey would not recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital “until the solution between Palestine and Israel.”

U.S President Donald Trump’s announcement last week to recognize Jerusalem and move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv sparked demonstrations across the Muslim world.

Jerusalem remains at the heart of the Israel-Palestine conflict, with Palestinians hoping that East Jerusalem -- now occupied by Israel -- might serve as the capital of a Palestinian state.

In his address to the Grand National Assembly, Yildirm also said the tomb of the grandfather of the founder of the Ottoman Empire would be returned to its previous location.

The Syrian tomb of Suleyman Shah, the grandfather of Osman I, was moved within 200 meters (650 feet) of the Turkish border in February 2015 due to fears that Turkish troops could be threatened by Daesh at its original location.

Under the 1921 Treaty of Ankara, the land where the tomb is sited is considered Turkish territory.