President Recep Erdogan of Turkey in a telephone call on Friday with Pope Francis, discussed the situation around Jerusalem, stressing the importance of preserving the city’s status, Turkish media reported, citing presidential sources. During the talks, both Erdogan and the Pope stressed that the protection of Jerusalem’s current status was crucial in order to ensure stability in the region, the Daily Sabah newspaper reported.
Earlier this week, Pope Francis also urged a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and called for Jerusalem’s status quo to be respected to prevent further conflict. According to the newspaper, the sides also agreed to hold a meeting soon to discuss bilateral ties, international developments as well as the issue of Jerusalem.
Erdogan and the Pope welcomed the UN General Assembly’s resolution, adopted on Dec. 21, rejecting the U.S. decision to recognise Jerusalem as the Israeli capital. The resolution was adopted by 128 votes to nine, with 35 abstentions.
On Dec.6, President Donald Trump announced his decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and instructed the State Department to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv.
The decision caused mass criticism across the world.
