ANKARA, Apr 8 (AA/APP) – The Israeli occupied West Bank “absolutely”belongs to Palestinians, said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, lambastingIsraeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu for his remarks on annexing Jewishsettlements in the occupied West Bank if re-elected.
Speaking to reporters ahead of his departure for a meeting with RussianPresident Vladimir Putin in the capital Moscow, Erdogan said: “West Bank isabsolutely a territory of Palestinians.”
The Turkish president said every action of Netanyahu is againstinternational law and that Turkey will continue to stand by Palestinians.
On Saturday, Netanyahu vowed to annex the occupied West Bank if he won thegeneral election, which is slated for April 9.
In an interview with Israeli television, he said: “We will ensure that weare in charge on the ground. And we will impose sovereignty over thesettlements in Judea and Samaria [West Bank].”
Erdogan went on to say: “Every action of Israel since 1948 is illegal. But,of course, it has always taken these steps with a support of the U.S.”
Historical Palestine was driven from the Palestinians in 1948 to make wayfor the new state of Israel.
Read Top Stories
During recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and the Israelisovereignty in Syrian Golan Heights, the U.S. took the lead, he said,adding the U.S.’s steps did not comply with the United Nations resolutions.
Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump recognized the Golan Heights as anIsraeli territory, which Israel occupied in 1967.
In December 2017, U.S. President Donald Trump sparked international outragewhen he unilaterally recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and vowed torelocate Washington’s embassy to that city.
Israel occupied the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, during the 1967Arab-Israeli War. It annexed the entire city in 1980, claiming it asIsrael’s “eternal undivided capital” — a move never recognized by theinternational community.
International law views the entire West Bank as “occupied territory” andconsiders all Israeli settlement building there as illegal.
