More Proof that President Obama’s Speech was not anti-Israel
Turkey’s Islamist leadership disagrees with the President’s approach to the Arab-Israel conflict.
U.S. President Barack Obama’s far-ranging speech on the Middle East has drawn a mixed reaction from Turkey, which expressed some agreement with the U.S. strategy on Syria but strong criticism of its approach to Israel.
The United States should support the Palestinian reconciliation process and pave the way for recognition of a Palestinian state if it wants peace in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said following Obama’s speech.
“There is a reference to the 1967 borders [in Obama’s speech]. This is an important window of opportunity. They should not refrain from giving support to Palestinian reconciliation due to Israel’s unnecessary reservations,” Davutoğlu said in an interview Friday with the CNNTürk news channel.
“What they should do is support Palestinian reconciliation and pave the way for recognition of a Palestinian state, so a legitimate Palestinian government can sit down at the negotiation table for peace with Israel,” the Turkish foreign minister said.