Palestinians applaud Erdogan win, pin hopes on Turkey
Palestinians hope Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will cut ties with Israel and focus even more on their cause.
It's an understatement to say Palestinians like Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. They might like him more than many Turks do. Palestinians name stores — and even babies — after him.
This week, Palestinians watched closely as Turks headed to polling stations June 24 to cast their votes in the parliamentary and presidential elections. Turkey has become the Palestinian people’s No. 1 choice when it comes to tourism, education, trade and now, perhaps, in politics.
Palestinian social media was buzzing with comments on Erdogan's victory, though his ruling Justice and Development Party lost the majority in parliament. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas congratulated Erdogan by phone. Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki contacted his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu, saying the results of the Turkish elections were a victory for Jerusalem. (Both Israelis and Palestinians consider Jerusalem their capital.) Ismail Haniyeh, head of Hamas’ political bureau, also called Erdogan to congratulate him and inform him that a delegation will visit Turkey soon.
Arabs in Israel also had their say. Two Arab Knesset members, Taleb Abu Arar and Abdel Hakim Haj Yahya, congratulated the Turkish president June 25. Kamal al-Khatib, deputy head of the Islamic Movement in Israel, said Erdogan's victory was a slap in the face of US and Israeli collaborators.
