Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu attacked Israel on Wednesday for its response to the recent surge in Palestinian terrorism, threatening to use force in order to “protect” Jerusalem’s Islamic holy sites such as the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
“Nothing will prevent Turkey from protecting Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa mosque,” PM Davutoglu told a meeting of his ruling Islamist political faction, according to Turkish media reports. He reportedly added that Israel’s “brutal” political leaders such as PM Benjamin Netanyahu should not “dare consider” continuing what the Turkish PM viewed as attacks against Muslims.
Although Jerusalem is the capital city of the sovereign state of Israel, Turkey does not recognize Israel’s claim to the city. Jerusalem’s Muslims pray at the Al-Aqsa mosque, which is located on the Temple Mount, a site of utmost importance to Judaism. Last week, A Palestinian jihadist shot and critically wounded a Jewish activist who wanted both Jews and Muslims to be able to pray on the holy grounds.
On Monday, Israel saw two separate Palestinian terror attacks. In Tel Aviv, a Palestinian stabbed to death an IDF soldier who was waiting for his bus. Later in the day, an Israeli woman was murdered while near an Israeli development in the disputed West Bank region. The terrorists were said to have identified with Gaza terror group Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
US Secretary of State John Kerry is set to arrive in Jordan on Wednesday. He will reportedly have discussions with Jordanian King Abdullah regarding the ongoing flare up in Jerusalem.
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