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Erdogan, Abbas Discuss Ceasefire, Reconciliation between Palestinian Factions

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (File- Turkish Presidency)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (File- Turkish Presidency)
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Erdogan, Abbas Discuss Ceasefire, Reconciliation between Palestinian Factions

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (File- Turkish Presidency)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (File- Turkish Presidency)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas discussed on Tuesday the latest developments in the Palestinian territories in light of the ongoing Israeli aggression, efforts to bring about a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and reconciliation talks between Palestinian factions.

The two presidents met at the presidential palace in Ankara where they tackled the situation in Gaza and the West Bank, in addition to the humanitarian situation with the war now in its fifth month.

An expanded meeting was also held between the Palestinian and Turkish delegations following the meeting of the two presidents.

The Palestinian delegation included Hussein al-Sheikh, Secretary-General of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the president's adviser for diplomatic affairs Majdi Khaldi, the president’s son Yasser Abbas and the Palestinian ambassador to Türkiye, Faed Mustafa.

Abbas arrived in Ankara on Monday evening at the invitation of the Turkish President.

On the eve of his meeting with the Palestinian President, Erdogan said that the war in Gaza tops Türkiye’s agenda and that his country will continue to do its best to bring about a ceasefire in the Strip and to help the Palestinians rebuild their land.

He said Ankara is also ready to provide various forms of assistance, including participation in the mechanism of guarantors after the war ends.

After chairing a cabinet meeting on Monday night, Erdogan said he would discuss with Abbas the Gaza situation in various aspects, stressing that any state or people that legitimizes the systematic dispossession of Palestinian land, will not enjoy a safe future.

He said that Türkiye is trying to support the people of Gaza through diplomatic initiatives and humanitarian aid.

“Türkiye is doing its best for Gaza and Palestine, it will continue to do so,” Erdogan added.

He then urged a unified Islamic world like bricks of a wall, to face what is happening in Gaza.

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Arab World

Blinken Seeks to Avert Syria Turmoil with Europeans on Final Trip

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) met French FM Jean-Noel Barrot in Paris. Ludovic MARIN / POOL/AFP
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) met French FM Jean-Noel Barrot in Paris. Ludovic MARIN / POOL/AFP
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Blinken Seeks to Avert Syria Turmoil with Europeans on Final Trip

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) met French FM Jean-Noel Barrot in Paris. Ludovic MARIN / POOL/AFP
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) met French FM Jean-Noel Barrot in Paris. Ludovic MARIN / POOL/AFP

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was heading on Thursday to Rome for talks with European counterparts on bringing stability to Syria in the face of flare-ups with Türkiye, capping what is likely his final trip.
Blinken had been expected to remain in Italy through the weekend to join President Joe Biden but the outgoing US leader scrapped his trip, which was to include an audience with Pope Francis, to address wildfires sweeping Los Angeles.
Blinken, on a trip that has taken him to South Korea, Japan and France, was heading on Thursday from Paris and will meet for dinner in Rome with counterparts from Britain, France, Germany and Italy.
In Paris on Wednesday, Blinken said the United States was united with the Europeans on seeking a peaceful, stable Syria, a month after the opposition factions toppled longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad.
But concerns have mounted over Türkiye’s threats against Syrian Kurdish fighters, who have effectively run their own state during the brutal civil war engulfing Syria.
A war monitor said that battles between Turkish-backed groups, supported by air strikes, and Kurdish-led forces killed 37 people on Thursday.
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have worked with the United States on Washington's main stated priority -- battling the ISIS extremist group -- but Türkiye says the SDF has links with PKK militants at home.
Blinken in Paris said that Türkiye had "legitimate concerns" and that the SDF should gradually be integrated into a revamped national army, with foreign fighters removed.
"That's a process that's going to take some time. And in the meantime, what is profoundly not in the interest of everything positive we see happening in Syria would be a conflict," Blinken told reporters.
"We'll work very hard to make sure that that doesn't happen."
Blinken said he expected no change on goals in Syria from US President-elect Donald Trump, who takes over on January 20.
During his last term, Trump briefly said he would accede to a plea by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to pull out US troops that have been working in Syria with the Kurdish forces.
But he backed down after counter-appeals led by French President Emmanuel Macron.
When to ease sanctions?
Also on the agenda in Rome will be whether and when to ease sanctions on Syria.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Wednesday that some sanctions "could be lifted quickly".
The US Treasury Department said this week it would ease enforcement on restrictions that affect essential services.
But US officials say they will wait to see progress before any wider easing of sanctions -- and the Biden administration is unlikely in its final days to accept the political costs of removing Syria's victorious Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rebels from the US "terrorism" blacklist.
While Western powers are largely in synch on Syria, some differences remain.
Blinken reiterated US calls on European countries to repatriate citizens of theirs detained in Syria for working with the ISIS group and languishing in vast camps run by the Kurdish fighters.
France and Britain, with painful memories of attacks by homegrown extremists, have little desire to bring militants back.
The Rome talks come a week after the French and German foreign ministers, Jean-Noel Barrot and Annalena Baerbock, jointly visited Damascus and met new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa to encourage an inclusive transition.
Sharaa, has promised to protect minorities after the fall of the iron-fisted but largely secular Assad.
A senior US official in turn said last month on meeting Sharaa that Washington was dropping a $10-million bounty on his head.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani will pay his own visit to Syria on Friday, during which he plans to announce an initial development aid package.
Italy's hard-right government has pledged to reduce immigration. Millions of Syrians sought asylum in Europe during the civil war, triggering a backlash in some parts of the continent that shook up European politics.
In contrast to other major European powers, Italy had moved to normalize ties with Assad just weeks before he fell, presuming at the time that he had effectively won the war.