Erdoğan voices support for Palestine in Eid message to US Muslims

Turkey's president on May 24 reiterated his country's support for Palestine as the Muslim world celebrates Eid al-Fitr, the holiday marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

"We will not allow the Palestinian lands to be offered to anyone else," President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in a video message on Twitter addressed to U.S. Muslims.

"I would like to reiterate that al-Quds Al-Sharif, the holy site of three religions and our first kiblah, is a red line for all Muslims worldwide," Erdoğan said.

"It is clear that the global order has long failed to produce justice, peace, serenity, and order," he said.

"Last week we witnessed that a new occupation and annexation project, which disregards Palestine's sovereignty and international law, was put into action by Israel," he added.

Israel has said it will annex parts of the West Bank on July 1, as agreed to between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz, the head of the Blue and White party.

The plan has drawn outrage worldwide, and especially sharp condemnation in Turkey.

The West Bank, including East Jerusalem, is seen as occupied territory under international law, thus making all Jewish settlements there - as well as the planned annexation - illegal.

Erdoğan hails Eid for US Muslims

Turning to the holiday, Erdoğan said: "I congratulate my American Muslim brothers and sisters' Eid al-Fitr on behalf of the citizens of the Republic of Turkey."

"I pray to my Lord that these holy days may herald an era of peace, safety, and serenity for American Muslims, the entire Islamic world, and humankind," Erdoğan said.

"The [coronavirus] pandemic has shown that there are no hierarchies or...

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