Ankara - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan
said on Tuesday Israel would pay a price for a dispute over
security measures it imposed at the entrance to Al-Aqsa mosque
in Jerusalem.
"Israel, which shows no respect for the Aqsa mosque and Dome
of the Rock, will see itself suffer the most damage," Erdogan
said, referring to Muslim sacred sites in the elevated compound
holy to both Muslims and Jews in Jerusalem's walled Old City.
Israel installed metal detectors at entrances to the
compound after two police officers on guard there were fatally
shot on July 14. The security move touched off the bloodiest
clashes between Israelis and Palestinians for years.
The strife, including the deaths of three Israelis and four
Palestinians in violence on Friday and Saturday, have raised
international alarm and prompted the UN Security Council to
convene a meeting to seek ways of calming the situation.
Israel decided early on Tuesday to remove metal detectors
and replace them with "smart", less obtrusive surveillance
means, an Israeli cabinet statement said.
Palestinians pray on the street near Lions’ Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem closely watched by Israeli security forces during a mass prayers last week. Picture: EPA
Palestinians rejected the new measures, calling for a return
to the status quo before July 14.
"I have heard of Israel's decision to remove the metal
detectors, and I hope the rest will follow," Erdogan told
parliamentarians from his AK Party. "...We expect Israel to take
steps for the peace of the region."
Al-Aqsa, one of Islam's holiest sites and a nationalist
symbol for Palestinians seeking their own state, is built on a
compound revered by Jews as the vestige of their two ancient
temples. The site lies in East Jerusalem, which was captured by
Israel in a 1967 war and annexed to form part of its "eternal,
indivisible" capital - a move not recognised internationally.
Protesters run away from stun grenade thrown by Israeli police outside Lion's Gate of Jerusalem's Old City. Picture: Guo Yu/Xinhua
The tensions in Jerusalem have kindled protests in Turkey.
Turkish media said some protesters kicked the doors and threw
stones at a synagogue in Istanbul. Erdogan called for calm and
said attacking places of worship was "a big mistake".
"We have no issues with the houses of worship of Christians
or Jews. We have taken the necessary measures against the
attacks planned on synagogues and temples in our country," he
told the parliamentarians.
Erdogan said he spoke to Israeli President Reuven Rivlin and
told him that Muslims going to al-Aqsa mosque could not be
treated as terrorists. "We can also not accept Jews going to
synagogues and temples being treated as terrorists," he said.