By Janet Ekstract ISTANBUL- On March 5, in a joint news conference in Ankara, with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Turkish President Erdogan hurled accusations at Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu. As Erdogan commented: “Netanyahu and his crazed administration have been openly carrying out genocide against Palestinian people with the unlimited support of Western countries.” The Turkish leader added that “Netanyahu and his “partners in crime” will be held accountable for every drop of blood they shed before the law and the public conscience.” Erdogan reiterated his country’s commitment to the Palestinian people and emphasized Turkiye’s oral presentation at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on February 26. He condemned what he said is a “massacre” of civilians who wait “in line for food and aid despite the ICJ’s injunction.”
Erdogan excoriated “Western powers” for their “support for Israel” in what he said “is an effort to atone for their crimes during the Holocaust.” He emphasized that Israeli settlers attacking Palestinians are a primary block to resolving the conflict. Erdogan added that “One of the biggest obstacles to a solution are the actions of the usurpers, called settlers, who have invaded and stolen land that belonged to Palestinians.” The holy month of Ramadan is a major point of contention because Israel’s far-right extremist ministers have called for severely restricting access to Muslims at Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan. The Turkish president called such “demands of radical Israeli politicians” as “totally absurd” while Abbas said “It is well known that extremist settlers go to Al-Aqsa and carry out attacks there.” Fears are mounting that Ramadan, beginning on March 11, could see widespread mayhem if a ceasefire deal isn’t reached in the next several days and Abbas warned “the consequences would be serious.” On Tuesday, Israel announced it will allow as many Muslim worshippers to access Al-Aqsa during the first week of Ramadan as in previous years, with assessments carried out weekly to monitor the situation. The Al-Aqsa Mosque is where thousands of Muslims carry out Ramadan prayers but the site also known as the Temple Mount to Jewish people is a holy place to both Jews and Muslims. During past Ramadan worship, Muslims were forced to contend with attacks by right-wing Israeli settlers whose extremism forces a wedge between Jews and Muslims alike.
