Israel’s ‘Palestinian-only’ bus racism, says Deputy PM

ANKARA – Anatolia News Agency

Turkey’s Bozdağ condemns Israel’s new ‘Palestinian-only’ bus lines. AA photo

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ has slammed Israel over the creation of segregated bus lines for Palestinians, describing the move as racist.

“It is overt racism and discrimination not to allow anyone but Israelis on certain buses. I condemn and denounce this action,” Bozdağ said in a recent interview with Anatolia news agency.

On March 4, Israel launched a bus service that will only carry Palestinian workers from the West Bank to Israel in a move that has drawn sharp criticism from many human rights groups.

When asked about claims that Israel had destroyed historic buildings around the al-Aqsa Mosque, Bozdağ said historical monuments were the common treasure of humanity.

“The world must protect these monuments. Those who raised their voices when Mali’s historic monuments were destroyed need to stand up and say a strong ‘no’ in the same manner and to the same extent when Israel destroys such monuments,” he said.

Al Qaeda-linked militants in northern Mali destroyed historic and religious landmarks in Timbuktu last January in an ongoing conflict in actions that were spurred by their claim that all relics are idolatrous.