Ruling AKP denounces UAE-Israel deal

ANKARA- Anadolu Agency

Turkey’s ruling party on Aug. 15 criticized the deal between the United Arab Emirates and Israel to normalize ties as a "political suicide" against the Palestinian cause.

It is also an attempt to eradicate a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine proposed by the international community, Ömer Çelik, spokesman for the AKP said on Twitter.

“Putting ‘normalization’ on agenda without considering Israel's aggression in Eastern Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank and mentioning Palestine state with East Jerusalem as its capital means accepting Israeli aggression."

Çelik went on saying that the UAE move should be considered along with its policies in Yemen and Libya, where he accused the UAE of planting seeds of hatred within communities in the Middle East.

He further noted that Turkey would always stand by “brotherly” Palestinians in line with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s “righteous” and “determined” political stance.

Israel-UAE deal

The deal to normalize UAE-Israel ties was announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday, forestalling Israel's controversial plans to annex large swathes of the occupied West Bank.

A joint statement by the U.S., UAE and Israel said the "breakthrough" would promote "peace in the Middle East region and is a testament to the bold diplomacy and vision of the three leaders," referring to Trump, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan and Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu.

Palestinian groups denounced the new agreement, saying it does nothing to serve the Palestinian cause and ignores the rights of the Palestinian people. The UAE's peace deal with Israel is a "treacherous stab in the back of the Palestinian people," Hamas said in a statement.

Turkey said the agreement was "stillborn" and "completely invalid", adding the UAE disregarded the will of Palestinians.

A Foreign Ministry statement read: "While pursuing its narrowly defined interests, the UAE has attempted to present its betrayal to the Palestinian cause as an act of altruism. The history and the conscience of the people in the region will never forget or forgive this hypocritical act."