ISTANBUL, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- Foreign ministers of Islamic countries on Tuesday advised Israel against taking further "unacceptable" moves to try to change the status quo in East Jerusalem, warning of confrontation by the Islamic world in response.
The ministers, present in Istanbul for a one-day extraordinary meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), referred to what they called recent "premeditated attempts" by Israel to "alter the historic status quo" in East Jerusalem, including the installation of metal detectors and cameras there.
"Any similar steps in the future would be unacceptable and illegal and shall be confronted by the organization," the ministers warned in a final communique.
Israel imposed the restrictions on Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem after three Palestinians shot dead two Israeli police officers on July 14, setting off bloody clashes with Palestinians, in which at least 10 people were killed and more than 500 others injured.
Israel lifted the restrictions last Friday, allowing Palestinians of all ages to re-enter the compound.
The OIC ministers "strongly" condemned the banning of Palestinian Muslims and Christians from worshiping in the holy sites in East Jerusalem through employing "collective punishment measures."
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Al-Malki called for more cooperation among the international community and Muslim countries, noting the Israeli occupation has continued for 50 years in East Jerusalem.
"Israel will not accept that defeat," Malki said at a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu and OIC Secretary General Yousef bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen. "We have to show Israel that our cooperation is deep-rooted and permanent."
Cavusoglu urged the international community to undertake necessary efforts to achieve a comprehensive and long-lasting peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians based on two-state solution, while Al-Othaimeen called for the mobilization of civil society organizations to deliver help to Palestinians in Jerusalem.
The OIC, which groups 57 states in four continents, is the second largest inter-governmental organization after the United Nations.
