Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has recently set his sights on Jerusalem, asserting a historical and religious stake and presenting Turkey as the eternal owner of the city.
The legacy of presence
Speaking at a ceremony at the National Congress and Culture Centre in the presidential complex, Erdogan said:
“We are neither guests nor invaders in this region. We are the hosts in this region. We have been here for over a thousand years. God willing, we will be here until the Day of Judgement.”
With references to martyrs and veterans, Erdogan stressed that “this homeland and this land were entrusted to us by our beloved martyrs,” linking sacrifice to Turkey’s presence in the region to sustain the narrative of a historical right and duty.
“The butcher of Gaza”
Turning his criticism once more towards Israel, Erdogan underlined:
“The network of massacres, led by the butcher of Gaza, Netanyahu, attacks a new country every day, with no limits to its cruelty and barbarity. The strongest reaction to this genocide, which has been carried out before the eyes of all humanity for the past 23 months, once again comes from the Turkish nation and the Republic of Turkey.”
By extension, Erdogan implicitly claimed a role in shaping Jerusalem’s fate, adding:
“As the Republic of Turkey, we are an established state with more than 2,000 years of experience in our memory cards.”
Also read: Netanyahu to Erdoğan: ‘Ottoman Empire won’t return’
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