Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday 2 Av called on Muslims to visit Jerusalem to protect al-Aqsa Mosque, seeking to hint at the need to protect the Islamic house of worship from Israel.

Seeking to inflame the international Islamic community, the Turkish president added that Israel is trying to usurp Muslim control of the mosque and Har Habayis under the guise of security requirements following the attack. On Shabbos, the Turkish leader spoke of Israel’s “excessive force” in regard to its response the fatal terror attack on the holy site that claimed the lives of two Israeli policemen.

“I urge the international community to immediately take action to remove practices that restrict freedom of worship at Haram al-Sharif,” Erdogan added, ignoring any claims to the site made by Israel and the Jewish People.

The Prime Minister’s Office responded to Erdogan’s statements as follows: “It would be interesting to see what Erdogan would say to the residents of Northern Cyprus or to the Kurds. Erdogan is the last one who can preach to Israel”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)