Turkish parliament slams Trump's Middle East plan
The Turkish parliament on Jan. 29 issued a joint declaration condemning the Middle East plan presented by U.S. President Trump a day earlier. The plan "is against U.N. decisions and the perspective of the two-state solution," the declaration read. President Erdoğan also lambasted the plan as “absolutely unacceptable,” saying it is "legitimizing Israel’s occupation."
Duvar English
The Turkish parliament on Jan. 29 issued a joint declaration condemning the Middle East plan presented by U.S. President Donald Trump a day earlier.
The declaration described the so-called "deal of the century" as a "plan of instability and conflict." "[The plan] is against U.N. decisions and the perspective of the two-state solution," it said.
The declaration said that Turkey would never back any initiative "which ignores fundamental rights and freedoms of Palestinians." Turkey will continue to protect the fundamental rights of Palestinians in the international areas, it added.
All parties represented in the parliament -- the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and İYİ (Good) Party -- signed the declaration.
Erdoğan: Trump's plan ‘absolutely unacceptable’
Turkish Recep Tayyip Erdoğan earlier in the day said Trump's plan ignores Palestinians' rights and attempts to legitimize Israel's occupation.
Answering the questions of reporters on a return flight from his Africa tour, Erdoğan said the plan will not serve peace and solution in the region.
"Jerusalem is sacred for Muslims and Trump's so-called peace plan proposing to leave Jerusalem to Israel is absolutely unacceptable," Erdoğan said.
A day earlier, Turkey's Foreign Ministry also dismissed Trump's plan as an attempt to steal Palestinian lands and kill off prospects of establishing a Palestinian state alongside Israel.
"This plan is an annexation plan that is aimed at killing the two state solution and stealing Palestinian lands," Turkey's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Jan. 28, describing Trump's proposals as "stillborn."
'Jerusalem is our red line'
“The people and the land of Palestine cannot be bought off. Jerusalem is our red line. We will not allow any step seeking to legitimize Israel’s occupation and atrocities. We will always stand by the brotherly Palestinian people and will continue to work for an independent Palestine on Palestinian land,” the ministry said.
“We will not support any plan that does not have the support of Palestine. There will not be any peace in the Middle East without ending Israel’s occupation policies.”
On Jan. 28, Trump released his oft-delayed plan to end the Israel-Palestine dispute in the White House where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was present.
During the news conference, Trump referred to Jerusalem as "Israel's undivided capital" but said that a future Palestinian state would also have a "capital in east Jerusalem." Trump did not address the question of Palestinian refugees and whether they will have a right of return to their former homes.
“Today, Israel has taken a giant step toward peace,” Trump said, adding that he had sent a letter about the proposal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
“This is a historic day,” Netanyahu said, comparing Trump’s peace plan to former President Harry Truman’s 1948 recognition of the state of Israel.
Palestine's Hamas decried the terms of the agreement saying: "This deal doesn't worth the paper it's written on and Jerusalem will remain for Palestinians."