US partner in bloodshed with al-Quds decision, Erdogan says

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has lambasted the recent decision by US President Donald Trump to recognize Israeli-occupied Jerusalem al-Quds as the capital of the Tel Aviv regime, stating that Washington is a “partner to bloodshed” and violence that may spark in the Middle East region.

Speaking at an event in the capital Ankara on Monday, Erdogan said the “struggle” of Muslims would not end until there was an independent Palestinian state.

“With their decision to recognize Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel's capital, the United States has become a partner to the bloodshed,” the Turkish president noted, adding, “The statement by US President Donald Trump does not bind us, nor does it bind Jerusalem.”

“Those who make life in Jerusalem al-Quds difficult for Muslims and other faiths cannot wash the blood off their hands,” Erdogan stated, noting that the current “vandalism and cruelty” in Jerusalem al-Quds would not last.

“Those who think they own Jerusalem al-Quds today will not find trees to hide behind,” he said.

On Sunday, Erdogan took a sharp jab at Israel, describing it as a “terrorist entity” and “killer of children.”

Speaking at a ruling Justice and Development Party’s congress in the central Turkish city of Sivas, Erdogan blasted the “disproportionate” force being used by Israeli forces against Palestinian protesters, saying that Israel was an “oppressive and occupation” regime.

“Palestine is an innocent victim... As for Israel, it is a terrorist regime, yes, terrorist! We will not abandon Jerusalem al-Quds to the mercy of a regime that kills children,” he commented.

Trump announced his decision to recognize Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s capital and relocate the US embassy in the occupied lands from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem al-Quds on December 6.

The dramatic shift in Washington’s Jerusalem al-Quds policy triggered demonstrations in the occupied Palestinian territories, Iran, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Algeria, Iraq, Morocco and other Muslim countries.

On Sunday, violent clashes erupted outside the US embassy in the Lebanese capital city of Beirut during a protest against US president’s decision to officially recognize Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s capital.

Demonstrators burnt tires as well as the US and Israeli flags as they pushed to break through a barbed wire erected by security forces around the embassy complex. 

Security forces used tear gas and water cannon to disperse the angry protesters. 

PressTV-Protest turns violent outside US embassy in Beirut

Police use water cannon and tear gas to disperse the protesters who have gathered outside the US embassy in Beirut.

Jerusalem al-Quds remains at the core of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, with Palestinians hoping that the eastern part of the city would eventually serve as the capital of a future independent Palestinian state.

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