Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that Turkey’s reconciliation efforts with Israel will in no way diminish its support for the “Palestinian cause”, The Associated Press reported.
Erdogan made the comments during a visit by Palestinian Authority (PA) chairman Mahmoud Abbas, who arrived in Ankara just one week after Turkey and Israel announced their decision to restore full diplomatic relations and reappoint ambassadors for the first time since 2018.
“The steps taken in our relations with Israel will in no way reduce our support for the Palestinian cause,” Erdogan said. “On the contrary, our Palestinian brothers also express that these steps will contribute to a solution to the Palestinian issue and improve the situation of the Palestinian people.”
Abbas did not comment directly on the rapprochement between Turkey and Israel, but thanked Turkey for its “unwavering” support to the Palestinians.
“We are aware of their support for their legitimate rights, freedom and independence,” Abbas said. “We know that Turkey and its institutions stand by the Palestinian people and the Palestinian state in every field, and support them in the international arena.”
The meeting between Erdogan and Abbas comes days after Israel and Turkey announced they were restoring full diplomatic relations in the latest step in months of reconciliation between the two countries.
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