Turkish President Erdogan brands Israel a 'terrorist state' and 'killer of children' as he vows to do everything possible to reverse Donald Trump's Jerusalem decision
By Chris Pleasance
Daily Mail
December 10, 2017
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has lashed out at Israel after Donald Trump decided to recognise Jerusalem as the Jewish state's capital.
Erdogan described the nation as a 'terrorist state' and a 'killer of children' in remarks on Sunday as fresh clashes erupted in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem.
The Muslim leader also vowed to use 'all means' to reverse Trump's decision, which was announced earlier this week.
He said: Palestine is an innocent victim... As for Israel, it is a terrorist state, yes, terrorist!
'We will not abandon Jerusalem to the mercy of a state that kills children.'
Erdogan also blasted Israel and Trump in a speech on Saturday, calling it a 'state of occupation' and saying the US President had 'unleashed conflict'.
He said: 'Trump seeks to move forwards by saying "there we go, I did it, it's done!". I'm sorry but... being strong does not give you such a right.
'The leaders of major countries have a mission to make peace.'
Israeli warplanes bombed two targets in Gaza late on Friday after rockets were launched at its territory by Hamas.
Two members of the militant organisation were killed while the Palestinian health authority said 25 were wounded, including six children.
Erdogan has sought to position himself in the centre of diplomatic efforts to force Trump to reverse his decision and has held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron to that effect.
The Turkish presidential source said Erdogan and Macron agreed during a phone call that Trump's move was worrying for the region.
Erdogan also spoke to the presidents of Kazakhstan, Lebanon and Azerbaijan on Saturday, the source said.
On Wednesday, he called an urgent meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Turkey next week.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's President, is also due to meet with Macron on Sunday, saying he plans to rebuke the French leader for condemning Trump.
Ntanyahu was particularly incensed that Macron had publicly opposed the American leader, but failed to condemn Hamas for its rocket launches.
Trump made his announcement in an address from the White House on Thursday saying it marked 'the beginning of a new approach to the conflict' and would 'advance the peace process.'
1 comment:
Neither can a lot of Americans.
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