World Bulletin / News Desk

Turkish President Abdullah Gul on Tuesday urged Israel to learn a lesson from a recent UN voting that secured Palestine an upgraded status at the organization.

"We all want peace and prosperity for Palestine. It is Israel who should get the biggest lesson from this vote. And it should see that it is left alone in the world and realize that how big a burden it has become on the shoulders of even its supporters and put them in a very difficult position. Israel should return to the negotiation table in a peaceful manner and resume talks," Gul told reporters at a joint press conference with his Palestinian counterpart, Mahmoud Abbas, who pays a visit in the Turkish capital, Ankara.

The UN voting on November 29 raised Palestine's status to "non-member observer state". The status upgrade was backed by 138 countries while nine voted against and 41 abstained.

Gul said countries which voted 'no' to the Palestinian status upgrade should also "review their positions and quit obstructing the natural flow of the water."

The Turkish president also criticized Israel's move to build 3,000 new illegal settlements homes in the occupied West Bank, which Palestine branded as a revenge to the UN voting.

"I'd like to take this opportunity to state once again that Israel should quit its unacceptable settlement policy which is tantamount to playing with fire. Israel must accept an environment of confidence where the two states could live together with East Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital and border of 1967," Gul added.

Gul also appealed to the Palestinian groups to secure a national reconciliation among themselves.

"Obviously, this dividedness needs to end as Palestine passes through such critical times. This would add fresh strength to the Palestinian cause."

Abbas pays his first foreign trip to Turkey after the UN voting.