Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met in Istanbul on Monday night with Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah to discussed ways to “protect” Jerusalem, the Palestinian Ma’an news agency reported.
In the meeting attended by Palestinian Minister of Waqf and Religious Affairs Youssef Ideiss and Palestinian Governor of Jerusalem Adnan al-Husseini. During the meeting, Erdogan confirmed the necessity of “unifying efforts to protect Jerusalem against attempts of Judaization”
Will you offer us a hand? Every gift, regardless of size, fuels our future.
Your critical contribution enables us to maintain our independence from shareholders or wealthy owners, allowing us to keep up reporting without bias. It means we can continue to make Jewish Business News available to everyone.
You can support us for as little as $1 via PayPal at [email protected].
Thank you.
“The only solution” Erdogan said, was to establish Palestinian state on the 1967 borders and “exert pressure on Israel.” There is no way to find a solution and peace in the region without first finding a fair solution to the Palestinian problem. Israel continues to distance itself from punishment,” Erdogan added, noting that peace between Israel and the Palestinians would not be achieved “unless Israel bears responsibility for its crimes.”
Erdogan reportedly said, Turkey has given “huge attention to Jerusalem and to the struggle of Palestinians for justice,” and that the country is doubling its efforts “to make Jerusalem the city of security, independence and peace again.”
This expression came after Erdogan criticize Israel for the Muezzin Bill and called on Muslims to go to Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in eastern Jerusalem, in the “hundreds of thousands” to show solidarity with the Palestinians and protect the site’s Muslim character.
According to Ma’an report the Palestinian prime minister updated Erdogan on the Palestinian political situation with Israel and about “Israeli violations.” He also provided details on the ongoing hunger strike of Palestinian security prisoners.
When Erdogan spoke at a Jerusalem conference on Istanbul, he called on Turks and Muslims around the world to visit the Al-Aqsa mosque and support the Palestinian struggle.
“As a Muslim community, we have to visit the Al-Aqsa Mosque frequently. Every day Jerusalem is under occupation is an insult to us,” Erdogan said in his speech.
In his speech Hamdallah accused Israel of “stealing land that belongs to legal owners.” He said that “Israel is trying to distort history and control the holy sites for Christians and Muslims.
“If the international community continues to remain silent about what is happening in Palestine, and especially in Jerusalem, Israel will widen its actions and the conflict will become a religious one,” he warned.
