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ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkey intends to open an embassy in East Jerusalem, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday, days after leading calls at a summit of Muslim leaders for the world to recognize it as the capital of Palestine.

It was not clear how he would carry out the move, as Israel controls all of Jerusalem and calls the city its indivisible capital. Palestinians want the capital of a future state they seek to be in East Jerusalem, which Israel took in a 1967 war and later annexed in a move not recognized internationally.

The Muslim nation summit was a response to U.S. President Donald Trumps Dec. 6 decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israels capital. His move broke with decades of U.S. policy and international consensus that the citys status must be left to Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations.

Erdogan said in a speech to members of his AK Party in the southern province of Karaman that Turkeys consulate general in Jerusalem was already represented by an ambassador.

God willing, the day is close when officially, with Gods permission, we will open our embassy there, Erdogan said.

Jerusalem, revered by Jews, Christians and Muslims alike, is home to Islams third holiest shrine as well as Judaisms Western Wall - both in the eastern sector - and has been at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for decades.

Foreign embassies in Israel, including Turkeys, are located in Tel Aviv, reflecting Jerusalems unresolved status.

A communique issued after Wednesdays summit of more than 50 Muslim countries, including U.S. allies, said they considered Trumps move to be a declaration that Washington was withdrawing from its role as sponsor of peace in the Middle East.

Writing by Daren Butler; Editing by Mark Heinrich

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