Ankara says Trump's Middle East plan would steal Palestinian land

Turkey dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump's Middle East plan on Jan. 28 as an attempt to steal Palestinian lands and kill off prospects of establishing a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

 "This plan is an annexation plan that is aimed at killing the two-state solution and stealing Palestinian lands," Turkey's Foreign Ministry said in a statement, describing Trump's proposals as "stillborn".

"This is an annexation plan aiming at usurping Palestinian lands and killing the two-state solution," the ministry said, adding that Palestinian people and lands cannot be purchased.

Stressing that Jerusalem was a red line in the eyes of Turkey, the statement said Ankara would not let Israel justify its occupation and persecution.

"We will always stand by the brotherly people of Palestine. We will continue to work for an independent Palestine within Palestinian lands."

The statement concluded that Turkey would not support any plan that is not accepted by the Palestinian authorities, adding that peace in the Middle East would not be obtained if policies based on occupation did not end.

Meanwhile, the deputy chairman of Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) also criticized Trump's plan. 

"No, Trump! Jerusalem is the capital of the Palestinian state and the heart of the Islamic world!" Numan Kurtulmuş said in a tweet.

Turkey's parliament speaker also criticized the peace plan, saying "Jerusalem is always a red line for us."

"Turkey's stance on the Palestinian issue is in line with international law and legitimacy," Mustafa Şentop said in a tweet.

"The unilateral 'Plan' announced by the POTUS [President of the United States] is an attempt far from perceiving the...