Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: “The Palestinian issue and Jerusalem is a national issue in Turkey” pointing out that Israel is practicing a cultural genocide in occupied Jerusalem and is trying to erase the Islamic landmarks in the city.
Erdogan’s remarks came during the opening of the second conference of the Association of Parliamentarians for Jerusalem which will continue on Friday and Saturday 14-15 December 2018 with the participation of more than 500 MPs representing 80 countries around the world.
He said: This conference which is held under the title “Jerusalem the capital of Palestine” aims to achieve a noble goal and deserves all appreciation and thanks and I hope that your consultations and efforts will be successful.”
“I salute the heroic sons of Palestine who are facing the occupation with their bare chests as well as the oppressed in Gaza who continue to live in spite of injustice and the Palestinian refugees who have been steadfast for 70 years and have not lost touch with their homeland. I also pay tribute to all those who strive to make Jerusalem and Palestine as a home for peace as well as for all who work for peace and prosperity in different countries of the world. Palestine is a test for every believer” he added.
The Turkish president paid tribute to the martyrs of the Palestinian people who were killed by Israeli occupation forces recalling solidarity activist Rachel Corrie who was killed under Israeli bulldozers.
“I know that you do not offer personal support but you reveal the solidarity and love of millions around the world for Jerusalem and that such events are of a great importance. I want to re-emphasize that we will strongly support our Palestinian brothers against injustice.”
“The issue of Palestine and Jerusalem is the issue of one billion and seven hundred million Muslims around the world our common destiny. Jerusalem is a gift to us from the prophets of God. We cannot distinguish between Jerusalem Istanbul Cairo Medina and Makkah. Jerusalem is a red line for us. We know that defending Jerusalem is in defense of humanity as a whole and in defense of peace justice and independence” he continued.
President Erdogan praised the support provided by the conference of the Association of Parliamentarians for Jerusalem in the service of Jerusalem and its people pointing out that the Israeli occupation seeks to erase the Islamic landmarks in Jerusalem stressing at the same time that they will not be able to do so.
“Israel is carrying out a cultural genocide in Jerusalem and if it thinks it will be able to do so through the transfer of embassies it is wrong. The most important reason that encourages Israel is receiving support from the UN member states. That is why I always say that the world is more than five (referring to the five permanent members of the UN Security Council).”
President Erdogan warned that the international media that Israel controls speaks always about anti-Semitic slogans. The rejection of the practices of Israel is not anti-Semitic and we also do not look at people based on their backgrounds. In our religion we cannot antagonize people based on their racial or religious differences.”
Erdogan spoke about the role of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation which is headed by Turkey to confront the US President Donald Trump’s decision regarding Jerusalem. He added “2018 witnessed intensive attacks against Jerusalem the United States has not complied with international law and the transfer of the embassy is a provocative step. We chair the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. We held an extraordinary summit on Jerusalem in Istanbul and it was a historic summit in which decisions were taken that stressed the Muslims’ keenness on Jerusalem at the highest levels.”
Erdogan pointed to the efforts made by Turkey following the US cut off of its aid to UNRWA which resulted in overcoming its financial crisis this year calling for continued support for the international agency.
Erdogan also called on the Palestinians to end the division and achieve national unity saying: “My Palestinian brothers you have to end the division. The believers are brothers we have to act so that our brothers could be strong. If we do not do so the occupying state will exploit this against you. Israel also wants the division to continue to continue its policy of Judaization.”
“We will not allow them to do so. We will spare all our resources to defend the Palestinian cause and Jerusalem. Thanks to the struggle of our Palestinian brothers and the awareness of the Muslims the Palestinian cause will reach its goal. And regardless of oppression and injustice the day will come when Jerusalem is liberated.”
The Association held its first conference under the slogan “Jerusalem and the challenges of the stage” in Istanbul in late November 2016 in the presence of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and under the sponsorship of former Turkish Parliament Speaker Ismail Kahraman with the participation of MPs from various Arab and Islamic countries and international legal personalities.
The Association of Parliamentarians for Jerusalem is the first parliamentary platform to activate and coordinate the efforts of parliamentarians from all countries to consult and cooperate in support of Jerusalem and Palestine and to develop mechanisms of parliamentary action in support of Palestine and to diversify its means to achieve these goals.
