RAMALLAH, Tuesday, May 24, 2022 – President Mahmoud Abbas today praised Turkey’s longstanding support for the Palestinian people and their just cause.

He made the remarks during a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu at the presidential headquarters in Ramallah.

During the meeting, President Abbas and Çavuşoğlu discussed the outcomes of the Joint Palestinian-Turkish Committee and the cooperation agreements signed earlier with Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad al-Malki.

President Abbas briefed the Turkish minister on the latest developments in the Palestinian territories, especially the continued Israeli violations, including attacks on Palestinians and holy sites in Jerusalem, daily killings, and ongoing settlement expansion on occupied land. He also highlighted home demolitions, the forced displacement of Palestinian families, and Israel’s adoption of unilateral measures that amount to apartheid and racial discrimination.

He reiterated Palestine’s commitment to international law and United Nations resolutions, stressing the need to establish a political horizon that would lead to ending the Israeli occupation and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

President Abbas thanked Turkey for its unwavering support of the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights, and emphasized the importance of continuing the work of the Joint Palestinian-Turkish Committee to strengthen bilateral relations, encourage investment, and promote the exchange of expertise.

For his part, Minister Çavuşoğlu conveyed the greetings of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to President Abbas and reaffirmed Turkey’s firm position in support of the Palestinian people and their right to freedom and independence.