Ankara: Trkiye has rejected “in the strongest terms” the recent statements by Israeli politicians and Cabinet ministers calling for the annexation of the occupied West Bank. Such declarations highlight Israel’s settlement policies, which Trkiye argues violate international law and aim to make the occupation permanent, according to a statement from the Turkish Foreign Ministry.
According to Anadolu Agency, the ministry criticized these annexation calls, especially at a time when ceasefire initiatives are being pursued, as they undermine longstanding international efforts toward a peaceful resolution. The Turkish Foreign Ministry emphasized that ongoing interventions in Palestinian territories and actions aimed at displacing the Palestinian population have further exacerbated regional instability.
The ministry reiterated Trkiye’s stance on the importance of recognizing the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. It called for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital to ensure lasting peace, trust, and stability in the Middle East.
The statements from Trkiye come in response to a letter signed by fourteen Cabinet ministers from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party. The letter, shared by far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on X, urged Netanyahu to annex the occupied West Bank by the end of the Knesset summer session on July 27.