'Steps taken with Israel will not diminish Türkiye's support for Palestine'

By Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA (AA) - Recent steps to normalize Türkiye's ties with Israel will not weaken the country's support for Palestine, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed on Tuesday.

"The steps taken in our relations with Israel will in no way diminish our support for the Palestinian cause," Erdogan told a joint news conference in the capital Ankara with his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas.

Abbas’ three-day visit comes as Türkiye and Israel take steps to normalize ties, including last week’s decision to restore full diplomatic relations and reappoint ambassadors and consuls general after a four-year hiatus.

Erdogan said Türkiye continues its longstanding solidarity with Palestine in the "strongest way."

"Türkiye, which has recognized the Palestinian state from the moment it was proclaimed, defends the vision of a two-state solution on every platform," he added.

Ankara rejects any actions aimed at changing the status of Jerusalem or its al-Aqsa Mosque, said Erdogan, adding: "We conveyed this to our Israeli counterparts."

Palestine supports Türkiye’s efforts to normalize relations, he said, as Türkiye’s dialogue with Israel will give it a better chance to defend the Palestinian cause.