Turkish, Palestinian presidents vow to revive Middle East peace process

ANKARA

AP photo

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan underlined “two state solution” to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict stating their support for a Palestinian State with Jerusalem as its capital. 

“As we saw in recent incidents, there is no benefit to anyone in increasing tension. As Turkey, we are always ready to support efforts to revive the peace process. The key to success here is protecting the rights of the Palestinians,” Erdoğan said in a joint press conference in Ankara on Aug. 28 following the meeting of the two leaders. 

Urging Tel-Aviv to halt its “occupation attempts, which juxtapose the possibility of the two-state solution,” Erdoğan said a peaceful resolution to the crisis would also “benefit the Israelis.” 

“The path to the permanent truce and peace in the region is clear. This path is the realization of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. The two-state solution is also a historical responsibility of the international community to Palestinian people,” Erdoğan said.

He underlined the importance of reconcilliation between Hamas and Al-Fatah. 

“Another point that has importance about Palestine is providing unity and togetherness between our Palestinian brothers,” Erdoğan said. 

“We regard this unity necessary both for the Palestinian struggle and for the improvement of the daily conditions of Palestinian people,” he added.
 
He also vowed that Ankara would continue its efforts for the recognition of Palestine in all international platforms.

“Turkey is ready to support efforts to revive the peace process,” Erdoğan said. 

The Palestinian leader said he “updated him [Erdoğan] on recent developments in our region and especially on the results of the recent visit of the American delegation and the efforts to convene the Palestinian National Council,” he added. 

Abbas also expressed his support to the peace process. 

“We emphasized that we are ready and committed to a historic peace deal under the auspices of President Trump. Our only hope is our people to be provided with the right to live in independent Palestine with east Jerusalem as its Capital within the boundaries of 1967,” Abbas said.

Negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians have been at a standstill since the failure of U.S. mediation in the spring of 2014. 

In January, U.S President Donald Trump pledged to urge Israelis and Palestinians for a peace deal. Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner, along with peace envoy Jason Greenblatt and Deputy National Security Adviser for Strategy Dina Powell, met with Abbas on Aug. 24 as part of a trip to the region aimed at looking at trying to renew peace negotiations.