Erdogan Repeats Old Claim that Turks and Muslims Own Jerusalem

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday reiterated his vow to conquer Jerusalem in a speech in Mardin, Turkey, raising eyebrows and signaling new tensions in relations with Israel.

This was not the first time President Erdoğan had made such a claim. In 2020, President Erdoğan claimed: said “Jerusalem is our city,” he said, referring to the Ottoman Empire, which collapsed after World War I.

era of israel reported at that time:

Turkish President Recep Tayyip president erdogan On Thursday, he hinted that Jerusalem belonged to Turkey, noting that it was ruled by the Ottoman Empire for much of modern times.

“In this city, which had to leave in tears during the First World War, traces of Ottoman resistance can still be found today.Jerusalem is therefore our city, our It is a city that was born from the world,” he told Turkish lawmakers in a major policy speech in Ankara. “Our first Qibla [direction of prayer in Islam] Al-Aqsa and the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem are the iconic mosques of our faith. Additionally, the city is home to Christian and Jewish holy sites. ”

Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. It is the third holiest city in Islam after Mecca and Medina, and the holiest city in Judaism.

NATO members Israel and Turkey are historically allies. But Erdogan stoked tensions by supporting Hamas terrorists and verbally attacking Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who responded in a similar way.

Turkish troops are advancing into the eastern Golan and East Golan region as they support the rebels who toppled the Syrian regime earlier this month and advance against U.S.-backed Kurdish forces in northern Syria. There is a possibility that there will be even more friction between Israel and Israel. Mount Hermon is trying to protect its borders.