Turkey condemns Netanyahu remarks against Erdogan

By Ilkay Guder

ANKARA

Turkish presidential spokesman on Sunday condemned remarks by Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who strongly reacted to the U.S. decision on Jerusalem.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Ibrahim Kalin urged the Israeli state to end its “occupation” of the Palestinian territory instead of attacking Turkey and Turkish leader.

"Those who think that Jerusalem, our first Qiblah [direction of prayers], will become the capital of the occupation state by making a fait accompli, are wasting their time.

"Instead of attacking our country and our leader, the Israeli authorities should end the occupation of Palestinian territories," Kalin said.

The spokesman said that Israel, which ignored international law rules and occupied Palestinian territory for hundreds of years, and systematically violated United Nations decisions, must first give its own account.

"It is not possible to take seriously the accusations and claims made by a mentality -- which murdered thousands of innocent Palestinians, [and] turned the lands of Palestinians into open prisons -- to suppress the guilt feelings.

"Like the rest of the world, the Republic of Turkey will continue to support the rights, the law and the oppressed people in Palestine," he added.

On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the U.S.’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s “undivided” capital and said the U.S. Embassy would relocate from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The dramatic shift in Washington’s Jerusalem policy triggered demonstrations in the occupied Palestinian territories, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Algeria, Iraq and other Muslim countries.

Jerusalem remains at the heart of the Israel-Palestine conflict, with Palestinians hoping that East Jerusalem -- now occupied by Israel -- might eventually serve as the capital of a future Palestinian state.