KUALA LUMPUR: Foreign ministers from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation on Thursday indirectly condemned plans by US president-elect Donald Trump to move the US Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

A statement issued after a meeting in Kuala Lumpur didn’t mention the United States or Trump by name, but said the OIC rejected any actions that could undermine the ability of Palestinians to claim part of Jerusalem in a future state.

It called on governments to desist from any activities that might encourage Israel to “pursue its illegal occupation and annexation of ....east Jerusalem, including any such encouragement through the transfer of their diplomatic missions to the city.” The statement invited its 57 member states “to take the necessary steps and measures” in response to any such hostile position, but didn’t elaborate.

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2017