Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lashed out at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government on Wednesday, claiming Israel is attempting to push the Palestinian Arab issue off the global stage, AFP reported.
“The aim of the Netanyahu government is to remove Palestine from the common agenda of humanity by profiting from chaos and new conflicts in the region," Erdogan alleged during a joint press briefing alongside Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas.
Vowing that Ankara would continue advocating for the creation of a Palestinian state, Erdogan added, “No matter what they do, they will not succeed. The Palestinian cause will continue to grow in people’s hearts as they try to destroy it."
The Turkish leader has maintained a vocal anti-Israel stance, frequently attacking Netanyahu's government with accusations of "genocide" in the Gaza Strip and expansionist policies across Judea and Samaria, Lebanon, Syria, and surrounding areas.
While Ankara and Jerusalem were nearing a diplomatic reconciliation prior to the October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist massacre in southern Israel, relations collapsed rapidly afterward, with Turkish officials repeatedly lambasting the Jewish state.
In March of last year, Erdogan labeled Israel a "terror state" following preemptive strikes against terrorist infrastructure in Gaza.
Months later, he claimed Netanyahu's government posed the single greatest threat to Middle Eastern stability.
Abbas arrived in Ankara on Tuesday leading a delegation that included senior official Ziad Abu Amr, intelligence chief Majed Faraj, and diplomatic advisor Majdi Khalidi.
Following their Wednesday discussions regarding regional affairs, Abbas characterized the meetings as “important and fruitful."
Last month, the 90-year-old PA leader announced plans for legislative elections on November 28, followed by presidential polls early next year. If held, the vote would mark the first parliamentary elections in the Palestinian Authority in 20 years.
Touching on the longstanding divide between Abbas's ruling Fatah faction and Hamas terrorists in Gaza, Erdogan expressed optimism regarding the vote, “I hope the decision to hold legislative and presidential elections in Palestine after a long time will bring good fortune… (and) will advance the reconciliation process."
Abbas also commended the August 7 defense agreement established between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, describing it as “of utmost importance" and voicing hope that the pact would foster greater stability across the region.