Turkey 'Disappointed' by Kosovo's Move to Recognize Israel
Turkey on Sunday voiced disappointment over majority-Muslim Kosovo's decision to recognize Israel and set up its mission in Jerusalem.
A vocal advocate of the Palestinian cause, Turkey became one of the first countries to recognize Kosovo, which declared its independence from Serbia in 2008.
"Even the thought by Kosovo officials of taking such a step -- which is a clear violation of international law -- is disappointing," the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement.
The ministry called on the Kosovo leadership to avoid such steps that would harm the legal status of Jerusalem.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday Serbia will become the first European country to transfer its embassy to Jerusalem.
Kosovo will also set up its Israel mission in Jerusalem and in exchange earn Israel's recognition, as it seeks to further legitimize its statehood.
Those decisions came out of a U.S.-brokered agreement between the two Balkan rivals.
In a separate statement late Saturday, the Turkish foreign ministry said it was also "deeply concerned" by Serbia's move.
Israel seized control of East Jerusalem in 1967 and later annexed it in moves never recognized by the international community.
Israel considers the city its undivided capital, but Palestinians see the mostly Arab eastern part of Jerusalem, including the Old City with its holy sites, as the illegally occupied capital of their future state.
The United States in December 2017 recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital and shifted its embassy from Tel Aviv to the city, sparking Palestinian outrage.
06 September 2020, 16:13
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Who the heck is the Turkish dictator to demand from any other country to not establish relations with another country. Apart from deciding that Ankara is the capital of Turkey who is he to tell other countries which city is, and which is not, their capital.
Even in this article, nowhere is it stated that the "Palestians" demand West Jerusalem as elonging to them.
06 September 2020, 19:43
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Erdogan (an authoritarian leader but democratically elected and not a dictator) is disappointed that Kosovo is establishing relations with a state that expelled millions from their homeland and occupies millions more and phillipo is outraged. Yet Phillipo is a paid mouthpiece of a state that denies millions of Palestinians their basic human rights, robbed them of their homes, properties and rights. That, he has no problems with.
07 September 2020, 12:13
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1. I would like to appoint you as my financial negociator, as at the moment I do not get a single cent for my comments.
2, I very much doubt that there were "millions" living in the area of the British Mandate in 1947, so where do you get your millions from?.
3. What about reparations for the 800,000 Jews who were expelled from the Arab States from 1948. Those 800,000 are now are the same number of millions of Palestinians you claim were expelled.
4. Much larger numbers of Moslems were expelled from India into Pakistan just a year before 1948, yet you don't cry out for their repatriation? Why?
Because the Government of Pakistan incorporated them into their country, gave them citizenship and full rights, something other Arab States refuse to do for "Palestinian" refugees.
07 September 2020, 19:29
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1. Whether paid or not and I am highly confident you are as that your name is not phillipo, you repeat extreme right wing talking points that are devoid if substance and indeed basic morality. For example items 3 and 4. Whataboutism is not an argument. It is a cop out. I know I am support massive human right abuses by Israel. But what about other countries? Well I do not see anyone here supporting human rights abuses elsewhere.
07 September 2020, 19:46
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2. You are a dishonest actor. You know that Palestinian refugees are in the millions because people do have children! But you try to fog the issue by playing word games
06 September 2020, 19:07
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Not Turkey is disappointed.
Erdogan is disappointed.
For decades, al the Turkish governments and people had excellent strategic, economic, politic and cultural relation with Israel.
Erdogan changed the Turkish traditional partnership with Israel.
Erdogan, is an Islamist, in the process of establishing his dictatorship.
His goal is to establish a new Ottoman empire.
Like all the Islamists dictators, trying to lead the Muslim world, searching for a potential Muslim unifying cause under his leadership he plays the anti-Israeli card.
Erdogan managed to isolate Turkey. He is in conflict with Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Egypt, France, Syria, Iraq. Without a single ally.
Remember one of Erdogan declarations:
"Democracy is like a train. You take it where you have to go, and then you get off”
07 September 2020, 04:42
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Kosovo chose to follow in Turkey's footsteps by recognizing Israel. Why is Erdogan "disappointed" in that?
07 September 2020, 12:18
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Bigjohn. Pity you do not read any comments other than those here on Naharnet. Otherwise you would not have written the nonsense that Biden, should he win the election in November, will move the US Embassy back to Tel Aviv. He has specifically stated, and his comments have been picked up by news agencies around the world, that he will NOT move the Embassy back to Tel Aviv.
07 September 2020, 12:20
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In 1947, East Jerusalem belonged to the British Mandate. In 1948 it was incorporated into the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, before becoming part of Israel in 1967. When, exactly, did it ever belong to "Palestinians"?
