Abbas called Trump’s decision a “crime” that threatened world peace. He called on the United Nations (UN) to take charge of the peace process and create a new mechanism, arguing that Washington is no longer “fit” for the task.

The Palestinian leader also said that the Palestinians are committed to a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict but that after Trump’s pivot on Jerusalem, Washington is not accepted as a fair negotiator.

Israel the ‘Terror State’

The Istanbul gathering of heads of state and top officials from the 57-member OIC could offer a strong response by the Muslim world to Washington’s move.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan— the current president of the OIC — called on countries to urgently recognize the Palestinian state and Jerusalem as its capital.

Erdogan has been among the most vocal critics of Trump’s announcement. In remarks to the summit, he said Israel is an “occupying state” and a “terror state.”

Earlier, in opening remarks to a pre-summit meeting, Turkey’s foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, told OIC foreign ministers that the US decision aims to “legitimize Israel’s attempt to occupy Jerusalem.”

“They expect the Islamic nation to remain silent,” he said. “But we will never be silent. This bullying eliminates the possibility of peace and the grounds for shared life. The US’ decision is null for us.”

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun, Jordanian King Abdullah II and top ministers of numerous nations attended the gathering in Istanbul.