By Janet Ekstract
ISTANBUL-Earlier this week, Turkish President Erdogan in a press conference said “Al Aqsa Mosque is Türkiye’s red line” and condemned Israeli police violence on Wednesday at the mosque and in Gaza. Erdogan added: “During this month of Ramadan, I want to express sadness and anger at the Israeli police targeting Al-Aqsa Mosque and Palestinian Muslims with terrorist attacks.” He went on to say that “This is called the politics of oppression, the politics of blood, the politics of provocation.” The Turkish leader made it clear that his country will “never remain silent or inactive” in the face of such acts. Calling for a quick end to the attacks, Erdogan added: “Trampling on the sanctity of the Al Aqsa Mosque is our red line.”
Two incidents of violence took place at Al Aqsa, the first on Wednesday morning and the second one that same evening. Israeli police claimed in a statement, that “dozens of law-breaking juveniles, some of them masked” had thrown fireworks and stones into the mosque, trying to barricade themselves inside. Israeli police said they were helping worshippers leave the mosque after the incidents. In the second incident with video posted on social media, Israeli police are seen using stun grenades and ordering Muslims worshipping there to leave. The violence comes as Ramadan and Passover are being celebrated by Muslims and Jews. During the last two weeks, a major source of the incitement has been rallying by Jewish extremist groups who are calling for actions such as slaughtering goats at the mosque site. That was an ancient Jewish practice that is no longer conducted by most Jewish people.
Meanwhile, in a statement he made on Wednesday, Prime Minister for the Palestine Authority Mohammad Shtayyeh also condemned the Israeli police in his comments. Shtayyeh remarked: “What is happening in Jerusalem is a major crime against worshippers.” Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Israeli police actions in a statement, calling on Israel to immediately remove its police force from the mosque. In addition, Jordan is requesting an extraordinary meeting of the Arab League to discuss the situation. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry also denounced what it labeled as the “storming” of the mosque by police and said this resulted in “numerous injuries among worshippers and devotees.” The ministry statement added that the police actions are “in violation of all international laws and customs.” The U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs called for restraint after Wednesday morning’s incident, stating on Twitter: “Violence has no place in a holy site and during a holy season. Alarmed by the shocking scenes in Al Aqsa Mosque and rockets launched from Gaza toward Israel. We call for restraint and de-escalation to allow peaceful worship and to protect the sanctity of the holy sites.” The Al Aqsa Mosque area is one of the most holy of sites for Muslims and also the holiest site in Judaism known as the Temple Mount.
