Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan said in Ankara on Friday that his country will continue to support the Palestinian people and their cause.

"I believe the Palestinian people will show fortitude that we expect from them and push forward the peace process and prepare ground for the establishment of an independent state," Erdogan was quoted by Turkey's Anatolia news agency as saying when he attended the funeral of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in Cairo.

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul was quoted as saying, "A new period has started for the Palestinian struggle. I hope Palestinian leaders will assess everything again and show a new leadership. I hope they will protect their unity and harmony, and make real the Palestine state, which Arafat could not see, on Palestine lands."

"I am sure all these sufferings and bloodshed will end with peace. Peace in Palestine concerns not only Palestine, but the whole world. Everybody should contribute to peace by all means. I hope Israel will also assess this critical period and revise its policies," Gul said.

Turkey has been an ally of Israel since the two countries signeda military cooperation agreement in 1996, while Turkey enjoys closeties with the Palestinians and supports their bid for statehood. Source: Xinhua