Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas were special guests at a dinner held in their honor at the Palestinian Embassy. Speaking at the event, Erdoğan reminded of the recent U.N. ruling in regards to Israel's nuclear efforts. Remarking on Israel's refusal to recognize the terms, Erdoğan said, "What does this even mean? 'Hey Israel get over yourself.' So Israel says they don't accept the terms. What difference does it make if you do, what difference does it make if you don't," said Erdoğan who went on to deliver the following messages:
THE U.N.'S TWO HISTORICAL RULINGS: "Israel needs to understand that the region is no longer what it was, and that the game cannot continue to be played this way. The conditions now are no longer what they were in the past. Our region is experiencing historical transformations. If Israel wants peace they need to accurately assess these changes. The entire world is expecting Israel to put forth a constructive and compromising stance. There were two votes of extreme significance that took place recently. The first is the voting which reaped 138 affirmative votes, for the U.N. recognition of Palestine as an observer state. The voting that followed, with 176 votes in favor and just six votes against, was the U.N. making the historical ruling to inspect Israel's nuclear weapons facilities."
WHETHER YOU DO OR WHETHER YOU DON'T!: "What does this even mean? 'Hey Israel get over yourself'. So Israel says they do not accept the terms. What difference does it make if you do, what difference does it make if you don't? From here on out, assessments will be done very differently. That is because with this U.N. ruling, the issue of reassessing other areas subject to sanctions will be brought to the agenda."
WHAT DID HE DISCUSS WITH PERES?: "Israel is not backing off from their illegal settlement activities, which intentionally destroys any hopes for establishing peace. Hey Peres, once upon a time you said to me, "As Turkey, you are successful in building residences on this land. Why don't you relay your knowledge on building residences to the Palestinians and I will secure the funds. Let's build residences for Palestinians here." Wasn't it you who said this? Has this changed since you became president? This Israel is one thing one night and something different in the morning. Let's recognize them well; they play every sort of game."
CRITICISM TO THE U.S.: "I am also calling on our American friends. Wasn't it you who wanted the two-state solution? What has happened now that makes you against Palestine becoming a state?"
The man who sobbed with Davutoğlu…
The Palestinian father who was captured on film sobbing with Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu after losing his daughter in Gaza was joined by his wife at the dinner held at the Palestinian consulate. Also present was Prime Minister Erdoğan's son Bilal Erdoğan. The speculation throughout the day that CHP Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu may also attend the dinner proved fruitless.
"Turkey worked hard to persuade others for the vote"
Palestinian President Abbas thanked Erdoğan and relayed to everyone the efforts Turkey made at the United Nations. "Turkey spoke with delegates from all of the nations voting in an effort to persuade them. What impressed us the most was to see the Foreign Affairs Minister of the Republic of Turkey holding a file which he showed to all member nations in an attempt to convince them to vote in favor of the U.N. resolution."
Abbas: I promise you…
In response to Erdoğan's advice to "unify", Abbas announced his road map. Abbas vowed to Erdoğan that the division between Hamas and Al Fatah will come to an end. "At this stage we now need to facilitate national reconciliation and put an end to the dissolution in Palestine. I promise you we will have achieved this soon," stated Abbas.
Received with applause…
A number of statements made by Abbas were received with applause including, "God willing, we will be able to greet you in the Palestinian capital of Jerusalem, because, it was you who gave it its name of Kudüs-ü Şerif (Jerusalem). I want to see the flags of Palestine and Turkey waving together in Jerusalem."
The leader who said 'One Minute'
During the heavily-attended dinner at the Palestinian embassy, Erdoğan was called up to speak by the Palestinian ambassador who introduced the prime minister as "the leader who said 'one minute, one minute."
This is a translation of an article originally written by Yahya Bostan.