Erdogan, Putin exchange views on US Jerusalem decision

By Ozcan Yildirim

ANKARA

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Thursday held a phone conversation to discuss the U.S.'s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, according to Turkish presidential sources.

The phone conversation comes a day after Donald Trump announced that the U.S. recognized Jerusalem as Israel's "undivided" capital and would relocate the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem despite widespread international opposition.

Noting that Israel's decision to annex Jerusalem in 1980 was rejected by the international community and the UN, Erdogan stressed that the recent step taken by the U.S. administration would negatively affect peace and stability in the region, the sources said.

The source added that Putin shared the same views and stated that they will be following these issues at the UN Security Council.

Jerusalem remains at the core of the Israel-Palestine conflict, with Palestinians hoping that East Jerusalem -- now occupied by Israel -- might serve as the capital of a future Palestinian state.

Ahead of his election last year, Trump repeatedly promised to relocate the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem.