Erdoğan: Leaving Jerusalem to Israel Unacceptable

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President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has criticized US President Donald Trump's move to hand over Jerusalem and parts of West Bank to Israel.

Answering the questions of reporters on a return flight from his Africa tour, Erdoğan said the plan will not serve peace and solution in the region. It ignores Palestinians' rights and attempts to legitimize Israel's occupation, he stressed.

"Jerusalem is sacred for Muslims and Trump's so-called peace plan proposing to leave Jerusalem to Israel is never acceptable," Erdoğan added.

Trump yesterday (January 28) released his delayed plan to end the Israel-Palestine dispute in the White House where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was present, while Palestinian authorities were not represented.

During the news conference, Trump referred to Jerusalem as "Israel's undivided capital".

Palestine's Hamas decried the terms of the agreement saying: "This deal isn't worth the paper it's written on and Jerusalem will remain for Palestinians."

Developments in Syria

Erdoğan also criticized Russia's attitude on Syria, particularly on Idlib.

He said there is no such thing as the Astana process anymore, adding, "We should see what Turkey, Russia and Iran can do to revive it."

If Turkey and Russia are loyal partners, it should reveal its attitude accordingly over Syria and Turkey, Erdoğan said.

"If Russia abides by agreements [on Syria], so will we, but for now, Russia does not stick to neither Astana nor Sochi [agreements]." (PT/VK)