Turkish, Israeli leaders speak on Al-Aqsa Mosque tensions
Blaming Israeli radicals and security forces for the attacks against the Palestinians, Erdogan expressed concern over the spreading of unrest to Gaza.
In a phone call with Israeli President Isaac Herzog late Tuesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his concern over Israeli actions against Palestinian worshippers at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque last week.
The two leaders discussed regional issues and bilateral relations, “particularly the events caused by some Israeli radical groups and security forces in recent days,” Erdogan said in a series of tweets.
Erdogan reportedly told Herzog that since the beginning of Ramadan, more than 400 Palestinians have been injured and 18 people, including children, lost their lives in the events that took place in the West Bank and at Al-Aqsa Mosque. Erdogan added that he was concerned that the events will spread to the Gaza Strip.
Blaming “radicals” for the attacks, the Turkish president said that measures must be taken to protect the sanctity and security of the mosque. “The violent events that happen every year cause rightful reactions in the Islamic world,” he added.
