UPDATE - Türkiye vows to continue backing Palestinian cause

ADDS MORE REMARKS BY TURKISH AND PALESTINIAN PRESIDENTS

By Diyar Guldogan and Mahmoud Barakat

ANKARA (AA) —Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed on Tuesday to continue supporting the Palestinian cause and enhance the prosperity of Palestinians.

"As Türkiye, we continue to support the Palestinian cause in the strongest way possible. We are deeply concerned about the violence of illegal settlers," Erdogan said during a news conference with his visiting Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas in the capital Ankara.

Erdogan and Abbas held one-on-one talks at the presidential complex to discuss bilateral relations, the Palestine-Israel issue, and other regional and international developments.

"We cannot tolerate any acts attempting to change the historical status quo of holy places, particularly the al-Aqsa Mosque. The unity and reconciliation of the Palestinians are key elements in this process," he added.

Underlining that the Palestinian issue is not receiving the attention it deserves, Erdogan highlighted the importance of engagement in the matter by the international community, particularly the UN.

The only way to a just and lasting peace in the region is to support a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine, the Turkish president said.

"Establishing an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital within the 1967 borders based on UN parameters is essential for the peace and stability of our entire region," he stressed.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was also expected to visit Türkiye this week, but the trip was postponed after he had unscheduled surgery over the weekend.

Ankara strongly supports a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, including the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

- Gratitude to Türkiye

For his part, Abbas expressed gratitude to Türkiye for its supportive stance on the rights of Palestinians, their quest for independence, and the defense of Jerusalem and holy sites.

"We express our gratitude to you, the Turkish state, and the Turkish people for standing by the Palestinian cause," he said.

Additionally, Abbas congratulated Erdogan on his victory in Türkiye's May presidential elections and commended Ankara's reputation in the region and internationally.

Abbas pointed out the challenges faced by Palestinians, given the current "extreme right-wing" Israeli government's efforts to undermine the political process through "racist and colonial practices."

Stressing that many resolutions passed by the UN had gone unimplemented over the years, Abbas highlighted the importance of Türkiye's support in upholding Palestinian rights and seeking full membership for Palestine in the UN by engaging in international forums.

During the meeting, Abbas presented Erdogan with a document naming a square in Ramallah after the Turkish leader.​​​​​​​