Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan meets Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas in Istanbul

Erdogan had earlier called on the OIC member countries to gather after the US recognised Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, shakes hands with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, left, prior to their meeting in Istanbul, Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017. (Photo | Associated Press)
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, shakes hands with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, left, prior to their meeting in Istanbul, Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017. (Photo | Associated Press)

ISTANBUL: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday met his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas in Istanbul, here.

The leaders met at the Beylerbeyi Palace, where they had a closed-door meeting that lasted for about one hour, the Anadolu News agency quoted a Turkish presidential source, as saying.

This meeting was followed by a summit of the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in the wake of US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Erdogan had earlier called on the OIC member countries to gather after the US recognised Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

United States President Donald Trump's announcement last week was followed by worldwide opposition.

Jerusalem is considered a sacred place, which is home to Jewish, Christian and Muslim holy sites.

However, it is also a disputed territory, contested by both Israel and Palestine, which sees it as a capital of its future state.

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