Turkey hosts Islamic summit on Jerusalem following US decision

Istanbul (dpa) - Islamic leaders are set to meet in Istanbul on Wednesday to discuss the state of Jerusalem after US President Donald Trump decided to recognize the divided city as the Israeli capital and move the US embassy there, sparking anger among Palestinians. The one-day event will be attended by heads of state and government who include Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Jordanian King Abdullah, Qatari leader Sheikh Tamim al-Thani and Iranian President Hassan Rowhani. Saudi Arabia and Egypt have not announced an intention to attend, and the United Arab Emirates is expected to send a deputy minister. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will come to Istanbul, as will his rivals from the Islamist Hamas movement. Palestinian youths have clashed with Israeli forces in recent days, leading to two deaths among protestors. The summit is being called under the umbrella of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, a body long seen as ineffectual and fractured.Erdogan has been particularly critical of Trump‘s announcement last week, threatening to cut ties with Israel and calling the move a "red line" for Muslims.By the end of the summit, the leaders are expected to have a joint position. At least 20 countries will send president or prime ministers, according to the Turkish Foreign Ministry.