25 July 2017
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday urged all Muslims to “visit” and “protect” Jerusalem.
“From here I make a call to all Muslims. Anyone who has the opportunity should visit Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa mosque,” Erdogan said in Ankara. “Come, let’s all protect Jerusalem.”
“They are attempting to take the mosque from Muslim hands on the pretext of fighting terrorism. There is no other explanation,” Erdogan said in a speech to ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) lawmakers in parliament.
“When Israeli soldiers carelessly pollute the grounds of Al-Aqsa with their combat boots by using simple issues as a pretext and then easily spill blood there, the reason [they are able to do that] is we [Muslims] have not done enough to stake our claim over Jerusalem.”
Erdogan said protection of the Muslim holy site is not a just a matter about whether it is possible to do more to protect but a matter of faith.
“Those who are able to should visit Al-Aqsa. For those who cannot visit Al-Aqsa should send aid to our brothers there.”
He said Israel’s legitimacy rested on the extent of the respect it showed to Palestinian Arabs and their rights.
Erdogan also denounced attacks on synagogues in Turkey, referring to reports that Turkish extremists threw stones at a synagogue in Istanbul last week.
“It does not make sense to attack synagogues here because something has happened at Al-Aqsa mosque. This does not suit our religion and it is not allowed,” he said.
