|
The
clashes at Islam's third holiest site and around East Jerusalem,
which injured 205 Palestinians and 17 police officers, came amid
mounting anger over the potential eviction of Palestinians from
homes on land claimed by Jewish settlers.
As the clashes flared, several Turkish officials criticised
Israel and called for other countries to voice condemnation,
while a Foreign Ministry statement urged Israel to "immediately
end its provocative and hostile stance and act with reason".
"Shame on Israel and those who keep silent in the face of
disgraceful attacks," Turkish Presidential Spokesman Ibrahim
Kalin said on Twitter late on Friday.
"We call on everyone to stand up against the policies of
occupation and aggression of this apartheid state," he said.
Turkey's communications director Fahrettin Altun told state
television Israel was violating human rights and would "pay the
price", as opposition parties echoed the government condemnation
in a rare sign of unity.
"Attacking innocent people praying is clearly terror," Altun
said. "We see that these attacks on Palestinians are against the
most fundamental human rights."
Former allies Turkey and Israel have had a bitter falling-out in
recent years despite strong commercial ties, mutually expelling
ambassadors in 2018.
Ankara has repeatedly condemned Israel's occupation of the West
Bank and its treatment of Palestinians, calling the issue a "red
line".
Last month, Turkey also condemned what it said was Israel's
"systematic attempt at evicting Palestinians", referring to the
long-running legal case that Israel's Supreme Court will hold a
hearing over on Monday.
(Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by Helen Popper)
[© 2021 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2021 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
|
|
