Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was welcomed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday just a week after Turkey and Israel announced a full upgrade of diplomatic ties.
With Erdogan playing host to Abbas for the second time this year, the visit is widely considered an attempt to reassure the PA president that Turkey’s support for the Palestinians will not waver despite its renewed relations with the Jewish state.
Speaking at a joint media event in Ankara, the Turkish capital, Erdogan said “the steps taken in our relations with Israel will in no way diminish our support for the Palestinian cause.” “Turkey defends its vision of a two-state solution on every platform, and we have clearly demonstrated our response to the Israeli attacks and civilian casualties,” Erdogan said.
Both countries then withdrew their ambassadors after Erdogan levelled charges of “state terrorism” and “genocide” at Israel, when dozens of Palestinians were killed in Gaza rioting in May 2018, following the US Embassy’s relocation to Jerusalem.
