Erdoğan calls on Israel to act in line with law and fundamental human values
ISTANBUL - Anadolu Agency
Speaking to reporters at a news conference in Istanbul Atatürk Airport before heading to Saudi Arabia, Erdoğan said that the Muslim world will not remain silent amid ongoing violations at Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem.
Protests erupted in Jerusalem after the mosque’s leadership spoke out against metal detectors that were installed following a gun attack on July 14 that left two Israeli police officers dead along with three Arab attackers.
Three Palestinians were killed on July 21 after clashes erupted between Israeli forces and protesters over new security measures at a highly sensitive Jerusalem holy site, the Palestinian health ministry said.
Three Israelis were stabbed to death in a Jewish settlement in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, hours after the three Palestinians were killed.
Israel’s military said it has sent more troops to the West Bank after the attack.
Two Palestinians died in clashes with Israeli forces on July 22 as the army moved in to seal off an attacker’s home.
The security measures at the Noble Sanctuary-Temple Mount compound in Jerusalem’s walled Old City.led to a wave of anger among Palestinians, who called for the immediate removal of the detectors. However, Israel has refused to back down, saying the detectors match security measures at other holy sites around the world.
Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım also condemned recent Israeli restrictions.
According a post on Binali Yıldırım’s official Twitter account, Muslims’ access to Al-Aqsa “being restricted for any reason is unacceptable.”
In a series of posts, he said, “We are waiting for Israel to right this wrong by heeding the Islamic world’s sensitivities.”
“Terror is a common threat to all humanity. Terror has no religion, language, or race. We strongly condemn terror once more”, the statement added.
The Turkish president, meanwhile, also noted that his visit to the Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar, will focus on resolving the ongoing crisis.
“Nobody has any interest in prolonging this [Qatar] crisis anymore,” Erdoğan told reporters, adding that Turkey supports immediate solution of the issue.
Erdoğan’s first stop was Saudi port city of Jeddah, where he meet with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman al-Saud.
He was scheduled to depart for Kuwait and later Qatar to meet Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.
Relations among the Gulf countries will be on the agenda and the leaders are expected to exchange views on regional and international issues and present a solution to end regional tensions.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt, Bahrain, Yemen and Libya cut off diplomatic ties with Qatar on June 5, citing several reasons.
Erdoğan also criticized Germany, saying that Germany did not extradite FETÖ (Fethulllahist Terrorist Organization) members despite their extradition agreement.
Relations sharply deteriorated after a court in Istanbul ordered six rights activists to remain in custody for allegedly aiding a “terror” group on July 18, with German citizen Peter Steudtner among them.
He also said nobody has right to interfere domestic affairs of Turkey.