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This handout picture taken and released by the Turkish presidential press office on December 13, 2017, shows Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan holding a press conference following the Extraordinary Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on last week's US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, in Istanbul. (Photo by AFP)

Here is a brief look at Press TV Newsroom's headlines from 09:00 GMT to 17:00 GMT, December 13, 2017.

Unity for Palestine

Turkish President, Rejep Tayyip Erdogan, has branded Israel “a state of terrorism” as he opened an emergency meeting of Muslim leaders. Addressing a summit of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul, Erdogan said the US recognition of East Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s capital is a clear violation of international law. He urged his US counterpart Donald Trump to reverse his “invalid and unlawful decision” since the international community is against it. Erdogan said Trump’s declaration rewards Israel what he called acts of terror. The Turkish president further called on all countries to recognize al-Quds as the Palestinian capital.

Iran slams US decision

Iranian President, Hassan Rouhani, has slammed as illegal the US president’s recently-announced plan on Jerusalem al-Quds. Rouhani made the comment during an emergency summit of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation in the Turkish city of Istanbul. He called on the Muslim community to exert all efforts to defend al-Quds. The Iranian president said the US has never been an honest mediator. Rouhani stressed that the Zionist regime is behind the massacre of Palestinians. He also reiterated the Islamic Republic’s full support for the Palestinian cause.

Saudi war on Yemen

Saudi Arabia intensifies it airstrikes on Yemen. At least 50 people have been killed in Wednesday’s air raids. In the latest attacks, Saudi warplanes targeted a vehicle in Ta’izz province. The attack killed at least eleven civilians and injured one person. In the capital Sana’a, the Kingdom’s fighter jets pounded a police compound. The bombardment left 39 people dead and dozens of others wounded. Saudi Arabia initiated its war on its southern neighbor in March 2015. Since then, more than 13,000 people, most of them civilians, have been killed in the aggression.

Palestinian response

Abbas said there would be no peace or stability without Jerusalem al-Quds as the Palestinian capital. He said Trump’s move shows the US is biased in favor of Israel and therefore cannot be a mediator for peace. The Palestinian president warned that he will seek a UN Security Council resolution to nullify Trump’s declaration.

Response to US al-Quds move

The leaders and representatives of 57 Muslim nations have urged the international community to recognize the State of Palestine and East Jerusalem al-Quds as its occupied capital. In an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in the Turkish city of Istanbul, Muslim nations also rejected and condemned the US recognition of Jerusalem al–Quds as Israel’s capital. They called the move "null and void", and said it was tantamount to an attack on historical and legal rights of the Palestinian people. Following the meeting, Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas said the US administration’s decision to relocate its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem al-Quds is a clear breach of international law. He said Palestinians will no longer consider the US a broker of peace in any future negotiations with Israel since they are neither honest nor neutral.

Palestinian anger

In the West Bank town of Bethlehem, several demonstrators have been injured as Israeli troops showered the Palestinians with tear gas. In Ramallah, footage shows Israeli snipers aiming their weapons at protesters, who in turn respond by hurling stones. Similar rallies have also been held in other cities across the occupied territories. No official figure has yet been released on the number of casualties. Officials say nearly 1800 Palestinians have been injured during anti-US protests since last week. Seven days after the U-S move to recognize Jerusalem Al-Quds as the capital of Israel, anger toward the decision shows no signs of abating.

Iran nuclear deal

Tehran has once again ruled out any renegotiation of the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi said members of a joint commission reviewing the agreement emphasized that the United States must deliver its commitments. He added that the commission also slammed the US violation of the landmark deal. Araqchi made the remarks at the end of a meeting on the implementation of the nuclear deal, also known as JCPOA. Representatives from all sides gather every three month in Vienna to discuss the latest developments regarding the landmark accord.


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