Erdogan: West Bank is 'absolutely' Palestinian territory

The Israeli occupied West Bank "absolutely" belongs to Palestinians, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated on Monday, lambasting Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu for his remarks on annexing illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank if re-elected.

Speaking to reporters ahead of his departure for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the capital Moscow, Erdogan said, “West Bank is absolutely a territory of Palestinians”, Anadolu Agency reported.

The Turkish president added that every action of Netanyahu is against international law and that Turkey will continue to stand by Palestinians.

On Saturday, the usurper regime’s premier vowed to annex the occupied West Bank if he won the general election, which is slated for April 9.

In an interview with Israeli television, Netanyahu noted that "we will ensure that we are in charge on the ground. And we will impose sovereignty over the settlements in Judea and Samaria [West Bank]".

Erdogan went on to say, "Every action of Israel since 1948 is illegal. But, of course, it has always taken these steps with a support of the US."

The savage regime of Israel occupied the West Bank, including East al-Quds, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. It annexed the entire city in 1980, claiming it as Israel’s “eternal undivided capital” --- a move never recognized by the international community.

International law views the entire West Bank as “occupied territory” and considers all Israeli settlement building there as illegal.

EA