Erdoğan reassures Abbas that restored relations with Israel won't affect support for Palestine

Photo: AA

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President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hosted his counterpart from Palestine, Mahmud Abbas, in the capital city of Ankara yesterday (August 23).

The two leaders held a joint press conference after the meeting at the Presidential Complex.

Recent steps to restore diplomatic relations with Israel won't cause Türkiye's support for Palestine to diminish, Erdoğan said. The two countries on August 17 agreed to re-appoint ambassadors after more than four years.

"Steps taken in the relations with Israel will contribute to the solution of the Palestine issue and improving the situation of the people of Palestine," according to the president.

"Two-state solution"

"Palestine has an exceptional place in the hearts of our country and our people. As always, we continue our solidarity with the Palestinian people and our support for the Palestinian cause in the strongest possible way," Erdoğan remarked.

"Turkey, which has recognized the State of Palestine from the moment it was declared, defends its vision of a two-state solution on every platform.

"We don't accept actions aimed at changing the status of Jerusalem and Masjid al-Aqsa in any way. We have conveyed our sensitivity and expectation to our Israeli counterparts in these issues in the most clear and direct way."

"Israel's attacks must stop"

For his part, Abbas said they evaluated the latest developments regarding the Palestine issue.

He conveyed information to Erdoğan about the recent hardships faced by the people of Palestine, and said they won't remain indifferent against attacks of Israel, Abbas noted.

"I have underlined that we will always fight by adhering to international law and signed agreements," he said.

"The release of the prisoners and the delivery of the bodies of our martyrs are among our expectations," Abbas remarked, adding that attacks on Muslims and Christians in East Jerusalem must stop. (SD/VK)