Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday warned the United States against formally recognising Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel, Reuters reported. Erdogan said Turkey would cut off ties with Israel if this happened.
United States President Donald Trump is likely to announce Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital on Wednesday. But unidentified officials in the US government have warned him against doing so.
“I am saddened by the reports that the US is getting ready to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital,” Erdogan told a parliamentary meeting of his ruling AK Party on Tuesday. Addressing Trump, the Turkish leader said, “Jerusalem is the red line for Muslims. It is a violation of international law to take a decision supporting Israel while Palestinian society’s wounds are still bleeding.”
“This can go as far as Turkey severing ties with Israel,” Erdogan warned. “I am warning the US not to take a step which will deepen the problems in the region.”
However, Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennett brushed off Erdogan’s comments. “There will always be those who criticise, but at the end of the day it is better to have a united Jerusalem than Erdogan’s sympathy,” he told Reuters.
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