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Abbas to Meet Erdogan as he Makes Surprise Visit to Turkey

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas delivers a speech, in Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank January 28, 2020. (Reuters)
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas delivers a speech, in Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank January 28, 2020. (Reuters)
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Abbas to Meet Erdogan as he Makes Surprise Visit to Turkey

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas delivers a speech, in Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank January 28, 2020. (Reuters)
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas delivers a speech, in Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank January 28, 2020. (Reuters)

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has made a surprise visit to Turkey after receiving an invitation from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

A statement issued by the Turkish Presidency’s Communications Directorate announced the surprise visit on Friday only hours before Abbas’ arrival in Ankara.

It said the visit aims to discuss all aspects of the bilateral relations as well as steps to further enhance the cooperation between Turkey and Palestine.

Erdogan and Abbas will also exchange views on the humanitarian situation in Palestine, the latest developments in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as the reconciliation between Palestinians and the elections planned to be held in Palestine.

Palestine’s ambassador to Turkey, Faed Mustafa, said that during his three-day official visit to Ankara, Abbas aims to brief his Turkish counterpart on the ramifications of the recent Israeli onslaught on the Gaza Strip and the urgent need to start reconstruction.

Mustafa added that the two leaders are set to discuss ongoing Israeli violations in the West Bank and Jerusalem, with particular focus on the expulsions in Silwan and Sheikh Jarrah neighborhoods, and Al-Aqsa Mosque, in addition to the means to boost bilateral relations in all fields.

Abbas is also expected to meet with high-ranking Turkish officials.

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France to Host Lebanon Aid Conference, Macron Says

France's President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech during the closing session of the 19th Summit of the Francophonie at the Grand Palais in Paris, on October 5, 2024. (AFP)
France's President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech during the closing session of the 19th Summit of the Francophonie at the Grand Palais in Paris, on October 5, 2024. (AFP)
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France to Host Lebanon Aid Conference, Macron Says

France's President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech during the closing session of the 19th Summit of the Francophonie at the Grand Palais in Paris, on October 5, 2024. (AFP)
France's President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech during the closing session of the 19th Summit of the Francophonie at the Grand Palais in Paris, on October 5, 2024. (AFP)

France will host an international conference this month to help drum up humanitarian aid for Lebanon and strengthen security in the southern part of the country, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday.

"We will hold in the next few weeks a conference to provide humanitarian aid, support the international community and support the Lebanese armed forces boost security, especially in southern Lebanon," Macron said after a meeting of French speaking countries in Paris.

Israel has begun an intense bombing campaign in Lebanon and sent troops across the border in recent weeks after nearly a year of exchanging fire with Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

Fighting had previously been mostly limited to the Israel-Lebanon border area, taking place in parallel to Israel's year-old war in Gaza against Palestinian group Hamas.  

Earlier, Macron said shipments of arms used in the conflict in Gaza should be stopped as part of a broader effort to find a political solution.  

France is not a major weapons provider for Israel, shipping military equipment worth 30 million euros ($33 million) last year, according to the defense ministry's annual arms exports report.  

"I think the priority today is to get back to a political solution (and) that arms used to fight in Gaza are halted. France doesn't ship any," Macron told France Inter radio.  

"Our priority now is to avoid escalation. The Lebanese people must not in turn be sacrificed, Lebanon cannot become another Gaza," he added.  

Macron's comments come as his Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot is on a four-day trip to the Middle East, wrapping up on Monday in Israel as Paris looks to play a role in reviving diplomatic efforts.