“[The U.S. decision to move the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem] is unfortunate. We cannot help but feel like we are living through the dark times prior to World War II,” Erdogan said at an event at the Chatham House think tank in London.
‘US administration responsible for massacre’
Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag also said on May 14 that Washington “shares responsibility” with Israel for the “massacre” along the Gaza border that left at least 37 Palestinians dead as a result of Israeli fire.
“The U.S. administration is just as responsible as the Israeli government for this massacre,” Bozdag wrote on Twitter, saying the incidents were caused by “unjust and unlawful decisions” as the United States moves its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Condemning is not enough: FM
Condemning the killings on the Gaza-Israel border is not enough and joint steps must be taken, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoglu said on the same day.
Çavuşoglu also called for the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League to show a stronger joint stance on Palestine issue.
‘East Jerusalem is the Palestinian capital’
Meanwhile, Erdogan said on May 13 that East Jerusalem is the capital of Palestinedespite all steps taken to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Speaking at a dinner organized by the TURKEN Foundation in London, Erdogan said 128 countries voted clearly against the U.S.’s decision to relocate its embassy at the U.N. General Assembly.
He said “only a few countries voted with the U.S.” as they were told to do so in various phone calls in return for financial aid.
“Jerusalem, above all, East Jerusalem, is the capital of Palestine. As the Islamic world, we accept this as it is,” Erdogan added.
Hurriyet daily news
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