It amounts to 鈥榯hrowing region into a circle of fire,鈥� says Erdogan

Recep Tayyip Erdogan

ANKARA: US President Donald Trump鈥檚 decision on Wednesday to recognize Jerusalem as Israel鈥檚 capital has sparked strong Turkish condemnation. 
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday said the decision ignored UN resolutions and amounted to 鈥渢hrowing the region into a circle of fire.鈥�
He added: 鈥淗ey Mr. Trump, what are you trying to do? If Trump is saying, 鈥業 am powerful and right,鈥� he is wrong.鈥�
Erdogan is expected to speak with leaders of Western countries, including Britain, Germany, Spain and France, as well as Russia about Trump鈥檚 decision. 
Turkey鈥檚 Foreign Ministry said in a statement: 鈥淲e condemn the irresponsible statement of the US administration that we learned with great concern, declaring that it recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and it will be moving the US Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.鈥�
The ministry added: 鈥淭his decision is against international law and relevant UN Resolutions, as the annexation of Jerusalem by Israel has been rejected by (the) international community and the UN.鈥�
Under Turkey鈥檚 chairmanship, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will convene an extraordinary meeting in Istanbul on Dec. 13 to present a coordinated response.  
While Turkey鈥檚 EU Minister Omer Celik called the decision a 鈥減rovocation,鈥� presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said it is 鈥渘ull and void鈥� for Ankara, adding that it is ridiculous to define it 鈥渁s a contribution to peace.鈥�
Kalin said: 鈥淭his is an attempt to legalize the current situation that would eliminate all peace initiatives, and it aims at opening deep wounds in the Middle East.鈥�
Thousands across Turkey took to the streets on Wednesday night, and demonstrated in front of the US consular and embassy buildings. 
Galip Dalay, research director at Al-Sharq Forum in Istanbul, said Trump鈥檚 decision has further strained US-Turkish and Turkish-Israeli relations. 
鈥淚n particular, Turkish-Israeli relations are likely to deteriorate if violence breaks out in Palestine, and if Israel responds in a heavy-handed manner,鈥� Dalay told Arab News.
鈥淚f the Turkish government had any intention of further improving relations with Israel prior to this decision, now it will face public sensitivity and pressure.鈥�
Dalay said Turkey should manage this process via a multilateral framework, adding: 鈥淕iven the wide international rejection of this issue, Turkey should build on this and not reduce it to a Muslim matter.鈥�
Murat Yesiltas, a Middle East expert at the Ankara-based think tank SETA, said Trump鈥檚 decision may have various consequences. 
鈥淚t could throw the Middle East policy of the US into a profound crisis,鈥� Yesiltas told Arab News.
鈥淭his decision will first and foremost derail the personal relationship between Erdogan and Trump, and create an opportunity for spoilers.鈥�
Yesiltas said he anticipates a major change in Erdogan鈥檚 perception of Trump, adding that time will tell whether the latter鈥檚 decision will galvanize regional cooperation against it.
The day before Trump announced his decision, Ankara warned that recognizing Jerusalem as Israel鈥檚 capital could prompt Turkey to cut diplomatic ties with Israel.