TURKEY CONDEMNS ISRAELI MOVE TO BUILD NEW SETTLEMENT UNITS

**Turkey condemns New Israeli settlements**.(Phooto: Press TV)

Istanbul, 9 Sha’ban 1435/7 June 2014 (MINA) – Turkey has condemned Israel’s move to construct 1,800 housing units in the West Bank and East Jerusalem in retaliation for the unveiling of a new Palestinian unity government earlier this week, the Anadolu news agency reported.

“Israel’s settlement building, which violates international law and damages the prospect of a two-state solution, is unacceptable,” Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement, Middle East Monitor (MEMO) quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

Turkey questioned Israel’s commitment to a fair and lasting peace in the region while it continues to build new housing units, and praised Palestine for taking an important step to unite the Palestinian people.

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President Mahmoud Abbas Thursday received a phone call from the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan, congratulating Abbas on the formation of the new national consensus government and the end of the intra-Palestinian split.

Erdogan said that the ‘Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO’s) commitment to negotiations will lead to wider international support. He praised Palestinian exerted steps to prepare for elections, stressing that it will strengthen the national unity and better serve the Palestinian cause.

Erdogan extended an invitation to Abbas to visit Turkey in the near future, as well as sent his greetings to the Palestinian people. (T/P02/E01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)