Israeli settlers major obstacle to peace, says Turkey’s President Erdogan

Israeli settlements are one of the primary barriers to settling the Israeli-Palestinian problem, according to remarks made by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday.

“One of the biggest obstacles to a solution are the actions of the usurpers, called settlers, who have invaded and stolen land that belonged to Palestinians,” Erdogan said during a press conference with visiting Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas.

Erdogan, a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause, also asked for unrestricted access to the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem during the Islamic fasting month of Ramzan, which begins this year on March 10 or 11.

“The demands of radical Israeli politicians to restrict the entry of Muslims… are totally absurd,” he said. “The consequences of such a move would undoubtedly be serious.”

“We’re about to start the month of Ramzan,” Abbas said. “It is well known that extremist settlers go to Al-Aqsa and carry out attacks there.”

Israel announced on Tuesday that it will allow the same number of Muslim worshippers as in recent years to visit the Al-Aqsa mosque during the first week of Ramzan, and that the situation would be assessed weekly.

Tens of thousands of Muslim worshippers gather at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound each year to pray during Ramzan. Both Jews and Muslims revere the monument, known as the Temple Mount.

Ramzan arrives this year as Israel continues its unrelenting military assault in the Gaza Strip in response to a fatal Hamas incident in Israel on October 7.

Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel’s far-right National Security Minister, recently stated that Palestinians from the West Bank “should not be allowed” to enter Jerusalem to pray during Ramzan.

Ben Gvir leads a hard-right party advocating Jewish control of the compound.

Days later, the United States called on Israel to allow Muslims to worship at Al-Aqsa.

Abbas is in Turkey for talks about the Gaza war and reconciliation efforts between Palestinian factions.