Turkiye urges action, says 'we cannot wait for the goodwill of Israel'
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During a ministerial meeting on Gaza held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan sharply criticizes "Israel" for its blocking of Palestine's attempts to achieve statehood.
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Turkish Foreign minister Hakan Fidan meets Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow, Russia on August 31, 2023. (AP)
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan criticized "Israel" on Thursday for refusing to implement the two-state solution, warning that the unresolved Palestinian issue could destabilize the region.
"We cannot wait for the goodwill of Israel to implement the two-state solution," Fidan stated during a ministerial meeting on Gaza organized by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Arab League Gaza Contact Group, the European Union, and Norway, held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
He pointed to a decision by the Israeli Knesset that rejects the establishment of a Palestinian state, calling it "pure greed that should not be condoned."
Fidan also condemned the ongoing Israeli military actions in Gaza, saying, "The ceasefire talks are at an impasse because [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu torpedoed them whenever a ceasefire seemed within reach."
He added, "Israel expanded its aggression first to the West Bank and East Jerusalem and now to Lebanon."
Since early Monday, "Israel" has bombarded Lebanon, killing at least 677 people and injuring over 2,500, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. The region has seen repeated Israeli escalations since the Israeli war of genocide began against Gaza, in which "Israel" has killed more than 41,500 Palestinians, mostly women and children.
Unresolved Palestinian issue risks regional stability
The Turkish foreign minister stated that Turkiye has long warned that the war on Gaza remaining unresolved could pull the entire region into "a black hole."
"This is exactly what is happening now with Lebanon. Our region is engulfed with flames because of Netanyahu," Fidan said.
He emphasized that the current situation represents a critical juncture, noting, "The genocidal aggression of Israel has raised a sincere awareness as to the true nature of the problem."
Fidan highlighted that nine other countries have recently recognized the State of Palestine and expressed confidence that more nations would follow suit.
"A Palestinian State is not a utopia. It is a fact, my friends. We should all embrace this in our narrative and for our deeds," he asserted.
He also mentioned that the International Court of Justice's advisory opinion and the UN General Assembly resolution from May 10, 2024, have opened new avenues, adding, "Now, we are one veto short of our objective."
"The State of Palestine should be a full UN member," he stressed.
Fidan pointed out that the occupation of Palestine has never brought peace or enhanced security for "Israel", stating that "implementation of the two-state solution will also ensure durable security for all."
He also recalled Turkiye's proposal for establishing a guarantorship mechanism to address the security needs of both nations, concluding, "The two-state solution is an endgame and it should be implemented before it's too late."
During his talk, Fidan highlighted the historical context and the current international support for Palestinian statehood, referencing numerous UN resolutions that recognize Palestine.
He detailed the "immense role" of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Arab League in "bringing back the forgotten definition and dimensions of the Palestinian issue, and in re-prioritizing how to approach the Palestinian issue".
"Now we are facing a General Assembly resolution where 124 members have approved a decision by the International Court of Justice that Israel should withdraw from the occupied territories within a year," Fidan said.
Read more: UNGA votes 124-14 to end Israeli occupation, 43 nations abstain
"At this point, there is a significant awareness in the international community. The international community now accepts and stands behind the fact that if Israel is given a state, the Palestinians should be given one as well. Just as Israelis pursue sovereignty and security, Palestinians should also pursue sovereignty and security. No one accepts or tolerates a situation where one side is pursuing sovereignty and security while the other side remains oppressed and enslaved. However, it is essential to continuously and loudly emphasize and fight for this issue," Fidan added.
