ANKARA
Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on Thursday said that Israel's settlements on Palestinian territory, without taking into consideration the reaction of the international community, prevented the activation of the peace process and seriously threatened the vision for a two-state solution.
In a written statement released Thursday, the Turkish MFA strongly condemned Israel's opening a tender for the construction of new settlements in Har Homa and Pisgat Zeev regions of Eastern Jerusalem and Israel's approval of new settlements in East Talpiot.
We also strongly condemn an approval by the Israeli Interior Ministry to carry the National Defense College to Eastern Jerusalem. It is not possible to accept such initiatives which pose a threat to the historic structure of Jerusalem and is intended to change the status of territory under Israeli occupation, the Turkish MFA said.
Israel must fulfill its obligations under international laws in the Middle East and end immediately all activities that hurt peace, the MFA also said.
