Erdogan on Israel

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on world Muslims to increase their visits to the iconic Al-Aqsa Mosque in Israel's Jerusalem so as to protect the site's Islamic identity. The Turkish leader also took the opportunity to heap scorn on Israel when he likened the Jewish-majority country's policies to South Africa's apartheid.

Speaking at a conference on Jerusalem in Istanbul, Erdogan verbally lashed out at Israel on its settlement plans in West Bank and Jerusalem.

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"We, as Muslims, should be visiting Al-Quds more often," Erdogan said using the Arabic name for Jerusalem. "Each day that Jerusalem is under occupation is an insult to us."

As many as 26,000 Turks visited the Temple Mount, or Noble Sanctuary, the site in Jerusalem in 2016 making it the highest number among Muslim nations, according to Turkey's Anadolu news agency. However, Erdogan emphasised "hundreds of thousands" should be visiting the site, which is considered holy by Muslims.

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Erdogan then went on to say: "What's the difference between the present acts of the Israeli administration and the racist and discriminatory politics that were practised against black people in the past in America – and up until a short time ago in South Africa."

During his address, Erdogan also warned the Trump administration not to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem calling the step would be "extremely wrong" and "ill-advised". Erdogan said: "It is not a simple location change. Those who think that way are not aware of how delicate the balance is in the Holy Land."

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Nevertheless, Erdogan's speech attracted a stinging response from Israel which said the controversial leader has no rights to preach morality. "Whoever systematically violates human rights in his country should not preach morality to the only true democracy in the region. Israel adheres strictly to full freedom of worship for Jews, Muslims and Christians – and will continue to do so in spite of this baseless slander," noted a sharp statement, which is said to be unprecedented in its severity, from Israel's foreign ministry.

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Israel's Haaretz daily reported that Israel did not plan to respond to Erdogan's speech but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu changed his mind after his remarks were widely reported by domestic and international media.

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