Erdogan hits out at Arab ‘treason’ over Trump plan

ANKARA: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday blasted several Arab countries for backing a Middle East peace plan unveiled by the United States, condemning it as "treason."

"Some Arab countries that support such a plan commit treason against Jerusalem, as well as against their own people, and more importantly against all humanity," Erdogan told his party’s provincial heads in Ankara.

Erdogan, a strong advocate of Palestinian rights, singled out Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Oman. "Saudi Arabia in particular, you are silent. When will you break your silence? You look at Oman, Bahrain, and Abu Dhabi is the same," he said.

"Shame on you! Shame on you! How will those hands that applaud (the plan) give an account of this treacherous step?" US President Donald Trump on Tuesday unveiled the details of the long-awaited plan aimed at resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Ambassadors of Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain were at the White House event in Washington. The three countries do not recognise Israel as a legitimate state.

Turkey’s relations with Riyadh and Abu Dhabi deteriorated after the 2018 murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul. Ankara has repeatedly claimed the Washington Post columnist was killed on the orders of the Saudi leadership, which has denied involvement.

On the conflict that engulfs Libya, Turkey supports the UN-recognised government in Tripoli while Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates back eastern commander Khalifa Haftar, who controls three-quarters of Libyan territory.

In his announcement, Trump said Jerusalem would remain Israel’s "undivided capital." Jerusalem is already a source of friction in relations between Turkey and the United States, which recognised the city as Israel’s capital in 2017 and moved the embassy there.

"We never recognise and accept this plan that usurps Jerusalem entirely," Erdogan said, slamming it as a "disgraceful" scheme. "Jerusalem cannot be left to the bloody claw of Israel," he added.

Erdogan warned that everyone would be responsible for the "grave consequences" of any step that encourages Israel, which he called a "rogue state" and a "terror state." "The key to peace today, as it has been for thousands of years, is al-Quds," he said.

The Turkish leader also said he would speak with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hit out at the Damascus regime’s "cruelty", warning Turkey was prepared to use "military force" again in Syria."We will not allow the regime’s cruelty towards its own people, with attacks and causing bloodshed," Erdogan said.

Syria was also "continuously threatening our country with migration," he said during a speech in Ankara. "Turkey with complete sincerity wants Syria’s stability and security, and to this end, we will not shy away from doing whatever is necessary including using military force."

He also said Turkey "could not stand by as mere spectators as new threats come towards our borders". Hundreds of thousands of Syrians have been displaced in Idlib since December after months of bombardment in the last rebel-held region in Syria’s northwest.

Many of them have fled towards the Turkey-Syria border, where Erdogan has said Ankara is building homes in a bid to prevent further migration. Turkey already shelters more than 3.5 million Syrians.

State news agency Anadolu reported on Wednesday that the Turkish army sent reinforcements to Reyhanli, a Turkish border town near Idlib. Erdogan said the only solution for Syria was a political process involving all citizens.

He hit out at unnamed countries who "give courage to the regime" in a bid to ensure the crisis continues.

Earlier this week, Erdogan offered rare criticism of Russia, accusing Moscow of "not honouring" agreements made with Ankara to prevent a regime offensive on Idlib. Despite Russia assisting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Turkey supporting opposition fighters, Ankara and Moscow have worked closely to try to resolve the nine-year war.

Ten civilians were reportedly killed Thursday by Russian air strikes despite a ceasefire announcement, though Moscow denied it. Turkey has previously launched three military operations against the Islamic State extremist group in Syria and a Syrian Kurdish militia in 2016, 2018 and 2019.