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Eight surprising facts about Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Eight surprising facts about Recep Tayyip Erdogan Newsweek Europe
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on Muslims around the world to visit Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem to protect the site's Islamic identity. The Turkish leader also took the opportunity to heap scorn on Israel, likening the country's policies to South Africa's Apartheid era.
Speaking in Istanbul at a charity conference discussing Palestinian economic
development, Erdogan lashed out at Israel regarding its settlement plans in the
 West Bank and Jerusalem.


"We, as Muslims, should be visiting Al-Quds
 more often," Erdogan said, using the
Arabic name for Jerusalem. "Each day
that Jerusalem is under occupation is an
 insult to us."
As many as 26,000 Turks visited the
 Temple Mount, or Noble Sanctuary,
 in 2016. However, Erdogan emphasised
 "hundreds of thousands" should be
 visiting the site, which is considered holy
by Muslims. "[It] would be the greatest
support to our brothers there," he said.
"Al-Quds is holy for all three divine
religions. It is the heart and summary of
 all human history.
"Both in terms of our religion and historical responsibility, Al-Quds and the fight of our
 Palestinian brothers for rights and justice
is of great importance to us. We will keep
 making efforts for Quds to turn into a
 city of peace."
Erdogan also said that permanent peace in the region would only be possible
with a "fair solution to the Palestinian issue".
"What's the difference between the present acts of the Israeli administration and
the racist and discriminatory politics that were practiced against black people in
 the past in America – and up until a short time ago in South Africa."
"Here is the only solution. The establishment of a fully sovereign and independent
 Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem as its capital along the lines of 1967," said
Erdogan, according to Anadolu.
Erdogan reiterated Turkey's support for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas,
and criticised attempts by Israeli lawmakers to limit the use of loudspeakers for
 the Muslim call to prayer (adhan).

Erdogan on Israel
President Erdogan also warned the Trump administration not to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem Umit Bektas/Reuters

The harsh words are notable as the two countries only recently reestablished
diplomatic and ambassadorial ties.
Erdogan's speech attracted a stinging response from Israel, who said the leader 
has no rights to preach morality. "Whoever systematically violates human rights
 in his country should not preach morality to the only true democracy in the region.
"Israel adheres strictly to full freedom of worship for Jews, Muslims and Christians –
and will continue to do so in spite of this baseless slander," noted a sharp statement
 from Israel's foreign ministry.
Israel's Haaretz newspaper reported that Israel had not originally planned to
respond to Erdogan's speech, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu changed his
 mind after the remarks were widely reported by domestic and international media.
During his address, Erdogan also warned the Trump administration not to move
 its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, saying the step would be "extremely wrong"
and "ill-advised".
Erdogan said: "It is not a simple location change. Those who think that way are
not aware of how delicate the balance is in the Holy Land."

Old City of Jerusalem
The Old City of Jerusalem with the rampart, the Dome of the Rock and the dome of the al-Aqsa mosqueThomas Coex/ AF