Erdogan: We won't allow Palestinian lands to be offered to anyone else
"I would like to reiterate that Al Quds Al-Sharif, the holy site of three religions and our first Kiblah, is a red line for all Muslims worldwide," Erdogan said.
By ALEX WINSTONTurkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan(photo credit: HANDOUT/REUTERS)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan marked the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan on Sunday, in a video message on Twitter and reiterated <a href="https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/analysis-israel-turkey-relations-could-be-in-for-a-change-628918">Turkey</a>’s support for Palestinians.<br /> <br /> “We will not allow the Palestinian lands to be offered to anyone else,” Erdoğan said in the video message addressed to US Muslims.<br /> <br /> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">President <a href="https://twitter.com/RTErdogan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RTErdogan</a>’s message for U.S. Muslims on Eid al-Fitr:<br /> <br /> “I congratulate my American Muslim brothers and sisters’ Eid al-Fitr on behalf of the citizens of the Republic of Turkey.” <a href="https://t.co/WvwGq53P79">pic.twitter.com/WvwGq53P79</a></p> — Turkish Presidency (@trpresidency) <a href="https://twitter.com/trpresidency/status/1264615898326814720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <br /> “I would like to reiterate that al-Quds al-Sharif, the holy site of three religions and our first Kiblah, is a red line for all Muslims worldwide,” he added, in reference to Jerusalem’s Temple Mount.<br /> <br /> Erdoğan regularly attacks Israel, and in December he insisted that <a href="https://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Erdogan-bashes-Israel-calls-on-Muslim-to-unite-against-the-West-610375">Turkey was a victim</a> of “terrorist attacks” because of its “principled stance” against “oppression in Jerusalem.” He also claimed that Turkey is the “lone voice” standing up for Palestinians today.<br /> <br /> In his Twitter message, Erdoğan also attacked the plans of Israel’s government to annex parts of the West Bank in the upcoming months. Turkey’s leader has long opposed US President Donald Trump’s Deal of the Century and claimed that, “Last week we witnessed that a new occupation and annexation project, which disregards Palestine’s sovereignty and international law, was put into action by Israel.”<br /> <br /> The annexation of 30% of Area C of the West Bank could begin to move forward as early as July 1, under the terms of Israel’s new coalition agreement signed earlier this month between <a href="https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/netanyahu-gantz-will-take-a-while-to-decide-on-annexation-state-dept-627958">Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and new Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz</a>.<br /> <br /> The populist president also addressed the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. “I wish Allah’s mercy upon our brothers and sisters, who lost their lives because of COVID-19, patience to their families, and a speedy recovery to those receiving treatment,” he added.<br /> <br /> Erdoğan’s anti-Israel stance did not prevent an <a href="https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/el-al-plane-lands-in-turkey-with-coronavirus-treatment-equipment-629099">EL AL flight landing in Turkey</a> on Sunday to collect humanitarian aid and equipment to help the US fight COVID-19.<br />
