‘Jerusalem To Israel Absolutely Unacceptable’: Erdogan Slams Trump’s Middle East Peace Plan

Day after US President Donald Trump unveiled his Middle East peace plan aimed at solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the proposal as “absolutely unacceptable”. “Jerusalem is sacred for Muslims. The plan to give Jerusalem to Israel is absolutely unacceptable. This plan ignores Palestinians’ rights and is aimed at legitimising Israel’s occupation,” Erdogan said.

The White House released its proposal for the future borders of Israeli and Palestinian states as part of President Donald Trump’s controversial peace plan. The map shows the West Bank area containing some 15 Israeli settlements, connected to the Gaza Strip area by only a tunnel. This would technically fulfil Trump’s promise of a contiguous Palestinian state.

Erdogan said the plan outlined will not serve peace or bring about a solution.

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Trump's Middle East Peace Plan

Trump said that under his vision, Jerusalem “will remain Israel’s undivided, very important capital.” He proposed Palestinian capital in Eastern Jerusalem and that US will set up its embassy there.

“My vision presents a realistic two-state solution,” he said.

Together we can bring a new dawn in the Middle East, Trump said as he urged the Palestinians to accept his deal and bring peace in the region.

Describing his plan as historic and deal of the century, Trump claimed that his proposal has the support of the world leaders in particular those in the region.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas rejects plan

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said “a thousand no’s” to the Mideast peace plan announced by President Donald Trump, which strongly favours Israel.

“After the nonsense that we heard today we say a thousand no’s to the Deal of The Century,” Abbas said on Tuesday at a press conference in the West Bank city of Ramallah, where the Western-backed Palestinian Authority is headquartered.

He said the Palestinians remain committed to ending the Israeli occupation and establishing a state with its capital in east Jerusalem.

“We will not kneel and we will not surrender,” Abbas said, adding that the Palestinians would resist the plan through “peaceful, popular means.”