Turkish Mission in Jerusalem Marks Palestinian Independence Anniversary
Turkey's diplomatic representation in Jerusalem has marked the 38th anniversary of Palestinian independence with an official statement, drawing sharp criticism from Israeli policy analysts calling for the mission's closure.
Turkey's diplomatic mission operating in Jerusalem has issued an official statement marking the 38th anniversary of the Palestinian Declaration of Independence, reaffirming Ankara's commitment to supporting Palestinian statehood and rights on the international stage.
Published in Turkish and Arabic on the mission's official channels, the statement extended congratulations on the milestone of the 1988 declaration in Algiers. The mission characterized Palestine as a "sister and friendly state" and pledged to persistently defend legitimate Palestinian rights across all global forums.
Domestic Criticism and Security Concerns
The continued operation of the Turkish diplomatic office in Jerusalem has drawn sharp domestic criticism amid long-standing diplomatic frictions between Ankara and Jerusalem. Ran Yishai, head of research at the Jerusalem Center for Applied Policy (JCAP) and a former Israeli diplomat, condemned the mission's ongoing activity, noting that Israeli diplomatic facilities in Turkey have effectively remained shuttered for several years.
Yishai accused the representation of serving as a hub for political subversion within Israel's capital and called for immediate punitive steps from authorities:
"The time has long since passed to close this Turkish center, which supports boycotts, incitement, and terror, and whose entire purpose is to undermine Israeli rule and sovereignty in Jerusalem."
