Image Credits - Middle East Monitor
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan forcefully called on the international community Saturday to oppose the United States’ veto of Palestine’s bid for United Nations membership and to recognize an independent Palestinian state.
“It is unjust that Palestine is not allowed to become a member of the UN,” Fidan declared at a joint news conference with his Mauritanian counterpart Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug in Istanbul. “We call on the international community to oppose this injustice and recognize the state of Palestine.”
The remarks come amid escalating violence between Israel and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip, which Fidan referred to as an “ongoing massacre.” He said Turkey and Mauritania were in “great solidarity” on the situation in Gaza and urged an “urgent ceasefire and uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid” to the coastal territory.
The U.S. has long backed Israel’s opposition to recognizing Palestinian statehood until a final peace agreement is reached to resolve the decades-old conflict. However, over 130 United Nations members have already recognized Palestinian statehood.
Fidan’s strident comments reflect the increasingly emboldened stance of Turkey and some other nations which accuse the U.S. of unfairly obstructing Palestinian aspirations for independence. It will likely further inflame tensions between the NATO allies as Turkish-U.S. relations remain strained over various issues.
The Palestinian Authority has sought full U.N. membership as part of its strategy for achieving an independent state in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem, areas captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war. Peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians broke down over a decade ago.