Erdoğan: Lasting peace in the Middle East can only come with a final solution to the Palestinian-Israeli issue

(Patria) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated today that lasting peace in the Middle East can only come with a final solution to the Palestinian-Israeli issue, Anadolu reports.

Erdoğan spoke today at the opening ceremony of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Saint Ephrem in Istanbul, the first church built in Turkey since the founding of the Republic, and on that occasion he referred to the Israeli-Palestinian conflicts.

He said that the Palestinian issue is at the root of the problems in the region and that if this issue is not resolved justly, this region will continue to yearn for peace.

- Only with a final solution to the Palestinian-Israeli issue can lasting peace come to the Middle East. The realization of an independent, geographically integrated Palestinian state with (East) Al-Quds as its capital is a need that can no longer be postponed - Erdoğan emphasized.

He expressed Turkey's readiness to do everything in its power to stop the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas, as well as to reduce growing tensions.

- Turkey continues and intensifies diplomatic activities aimed at rebuilding peace - Erdoğan stressed.

He added that those who close their eyes to hate crimes unfortunately undermine the will of different cultures to live together in peace.