Press. voanews.com
Criticism of
President Donald Trump's reported plan to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's
capital is pouring in from across the Middle East, Europe and around the world.
One of the strongest statements of opposition to such a plan came from key NATO
ally Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan Tuesday. Erdogan told a
parliamentary group meeting of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP),
"This could go as far as cutting our diplomatic relations with Israel. You
cannot take such a step."
He described Jerusalem
as a "red line" for Muslims and said Ankara would take measures in
the event of a possible U.S. move, including convening the Organization of
Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul. Such recognition by the U.S. not only would be
a violation of international law but also would be "a big blow to the
conscience of the humanity," Erdogan said. He warned of serious diplomatic
consequences if Washington proceeded with the move.
Israeli
officials in turn criticized Erdogan's remarks. The Israeli newspaper Haaretz
quoted a senior Israeli official as saying, "Jerusalem has been the Jewish
capital for 3,000 years and the capital of Israel for 70 years, whether Turkish
President Erdogan recognizes it as such or not."The status of Jerusalem is
at the epicenter of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with the Palestinians
backed by the rest of the Arab and Islamic world. Israel regards the entire
city as its indivisible capital, while the Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as
the capital of a future state.
