Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Participating in the meeting were HAK Trade Unions Confederation (Hak-İş) President Mahmut Arslan, Public Servants Unions Confederation (Memur-Sen) Chairman Ali Yalcin, Turkey Tradesmen and Artisans Confederation (TESK) Chairman Bendevi Palandöken, Turkey Confederation of Trade Unions (TURK-IS ) President Ergun Atalay, Turkey Confederation of Employer Associations (TISK) Executive Board Member Erhan Polat, Turkey Public Servants Unions Confederation (Turkey Kamu-Sen) President Önder Kahveci, the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu and Turkey Union of Agricultural Chambers (TZOB) Chairman Şemsi Bayraktar.

The joint declaration is as follows:

“We stand before you as the representatives of the professional and civil society of Turkey, the Turkey-EU Joint Consultative Committee’s Turkish members.

About 5 months ago, we had expressed how, ignoring international law, wrong, dangerous and irresponsible the decision of the US President to move the embassy in Israel to Jerusalem was. Unfortunately, the US administration did not step back from it, insisting on the mistake, and the result was the Jerusalem massacre, which ended in shame.

We strongly condemn Israel's inhuman attack on Palestinians; we pray for the loss of our Palestinian brothers and sisters, and we pray for speedy recovery of those wounded.

Distinguished Members of the Press,

Jerusalem is of the utmost importance for all three Abrahamic religions; a holy city sacred for all three. It has been the symbol of coexistence for centuries, it is a shared value of all mankind, belonging to no one and all of us.

The first kiblah of Muslims, the Masjid al-Aqsa and Jerusalem, is sacred for the of Islamic faith of 1.5 billion. The illegal move which the US and Israel have launched together is a betrayal to Jerusalem; a betrayal of peace and tranquility; a betrayal of humanity; a disrespectful attitude towards the whole Islamic world and an open provocation.

Moreover, this is a blow to the solution of the Palestinian problem, the peace process of the Middle East, as well as the sensitive balances and stability of the region. No one has the right to play with the fate and faith of billions of people for the sake of personal desires or political interests.

Remaining silent in the face of the US president's willful disregard of law and democracy coupled with the militarist, insolent and inhumane practices of Israel, will result in the opening of a very dangerous door for the whole world.

Violation of Jerusalem's historical status is unacceptable. We condemn this decision, which does not serve any purpose other than to create new conflict areas in the Middle East and to throw the region into further turmoil.

We will be attending the Istanbul Yenikapi rally tomorrow, the Rally to Support Palestinian People's, and we are calling for the participation of all members of our community. We salute all of you with respect.”