ISTANBUL (Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - The Palestinian Prime Minister of the Gaza government, Ismail Haneyya, arrived in Istanbul Sunday on the third leg of his tour where he received a warm welcome from the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The vicious onslaught that Jerusalem is being exposed to in terms of Judaization and expulsion of its indigenous population and ways to support Jerusalemites and protect holy places were discussed during the meeting of the two leaders.
Erdogan expressed support for Palestinian reconciliation, according to Anadolu Agency.
The rebuilding of the Gaza Strip was also discussed and Haneyya revealed after the meeting that there was a Turkish comprehensive plan for the development of the Gaza Strip.
Taher al-Nunu, spokesman of the government in Gaza, said on Sunday evening that Erdogan stressed that Hamas was a legitimate liberation movement which was elected by the Palestinian people and the well of the Palestinian people must be respected. Erdogan also stressed that ending the siege on Gaza was one of the three conditions that Turkey put to mend relations with Israel.
Haneyya thanked Erdogan for the Turkish political and economic support for the Palestinian people.
Hanryya's tour has so far taken him to Egypt and Sudan before he arrived in Istanbul.
While in Turkey, he is expected to inspect the Mavi Marmara and visit families of the Turkish victims who were killed on board the vessel by the Israeli navy while on their way to deliver humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza Strip.
A statement by the Humanitarian Aid Foundation (İHH), one of the organizers of the flotilla of six aid vessels headed for the Gaza Strip that was subjected to a deadly raid by the Israeli military on May 31, 2010, said on Sunday that Haniyeh will pay a visit to the İHH and hold a joint press conference with İHH Chairman Bülent Yıldırım on Monday.
The statement said Haniyeh will also visit the Turkish ship the Mavi Marmara, which was part of the international flotilla that attempted to break the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip. Eight Turks and a Turkish-American were killed aboard the Mavi Marmara in the attack by Israeli.
End item/175
1 January 2012 - 20:30
News ID: 288029
Erdogan received Ismail Haniyeh, prime minister of the Palestinian administration in Gaza, in his residence in Istanbul on Sunday.
