Violence has rocked the occupied West Bank in recent months as Israeli forces ramp up their raids.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has expressed concern about Israeli settler violence against Palestinians in a meeting with his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas.
“As Turkey, we continue to support the Palestinian cause in the strongest way possible. We are deeply concerned about the violence of illegal settlers,” Erdogan said after the meeting in the Turkish capital, Ankara, on Tuesday.
Violence has rocked the occupied West Bank in recent months as Israeli forces ramp up their raids. Ensuing clashes have resulted in Israeli settlers scaling attacks on Palestinian villages.
Erdogan also addressed the issue of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, where some hardline Israeli Jewish settlers are promoting its destruction and the construction of a third Jewish temple in its place.
“We cannot tolerate any acts attempting to change the historical status quo of holy places, particularly the al-Aqsa Mosque. The unity and reconciliation of the Palestinians are key elements in this process,” the Turkish leader said.
The only way to a just and lasting peace in the region is to support a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine, Erdogan added.
Erdogan later held a behind closed doors meeting with Abbas and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.
Hamas defeated Abbas’ Fatah and took control of the blockaded Gaza Strip in 2007, and the two parties have been unable to repair the rift since, with Fatah dominant in the occupied West Bank.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was also set to visit Turkey later this week, but the trip was postponed after he had unscheduled surgery on Sunday.
