High-level representatives, including some heads of states from the 57-member Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), come together today in Istanbul at a summit to consider a joint stance against United States’ recent recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Turkey, as the term president of the OIC, hosts leaders from Muslim-majority countries on Dec. 13, with a joint position of Muslim countries to be announced under the title of the Istanbul Declaration.

The move comes after U.S. President Donald Trump instructed the State Department to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, in line with the 1995-dated Jerusalem Embassy Act.

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The Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will hold an extraordinary Summit in Istanbul, Turkey on December 13, to discuss the repercussions of the recognition by the United States of Al-Quds as a capital of Israel.

The Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Member States will hold an extraordinary meeting on the same morning to discuss the move in a unified and coordinated manner in the face of these developments affecting the occupied city of Al-Quds and its historical, legal and political status.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Jordanian King Abdullah II, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, Bangladeshi President Abdoul Hamid and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani are among 22 heads of state and government who will be present at the summit.

Some 25 foreign ministers will also be represented, including Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco and Kazakhstan. Saudi Arabia will be represented by Islamic Affairs Minister Salih bin Abdulaziz al-Shaikh.

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