Erdoğan’s Response to Netanyahu’s Remarks on Jerusalem
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of Turkey and leader of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), delivered a speech at the groundbreaking ceremony of the new Ministry of Foreign Affairs building, responding to the statements of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had said: “Jerusalem is our city, not yours.”
In his speech, Erdoğan said: “We do not concern ourselves with empty words and worthless quarrels. They will drown in the blood they have shed, and there is no escape from this fate. Netanyahu does not know this. Today, I shout from here, perhaps he will learn. With wisdom and tolerance, we turned this city into a land of peace and tranquility. No one can prevent our support for the oppressed people of Gaza. We will not allow Jerusalem to be defiled. Jerusalem is not only our city, but also the common cause and heritage of two billion Muslims.”
He added: “The language of diplomacy is the language of courtesy, and Turkey’s foreign policy is centered on peace. But this does not mean remaining silent in the face of rudeness or retreating. We stand with those who are targeted by Israel’s bullying.”
Erdoğan also said: “Those who think they can build a secure future through oppression, genocide, and at the cost of innocent children’s lives will be defeated and will drown in the blood they have shed. The complexes of those who follow in Hitler’s footsteps will never be healed.”
He further emphasized Turkey’s foreign policy: “We live in a world that faces new crises every day. Turkey is a country that acts not on the logic of power, but on the basis of rights and justice. Our motto is ‘The world is bigger than five.’ We will not remain silent in the face of oppression and aggression, and we will always stand by the oppressed.”
Once again addressing Netanyahu, Erdoğan said: “No provocation or conspiracy will divert us from our path. We do not bow down to oppression. No one can prevent our support for the oppressed people of Gaza. We will not allow Jerusalem to be defiled. Jerusalem is the common cause and heritage of the Islamic Ummah.”
What Did Netanyahu Say?
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a program held in Jerusalem, recalled a memory from 1998 with then–Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz, targeting Erdoğan and saying: “Jerusalem is our city, Mr. Erdoğan. It is not your city. It has always been our city and it will remain so. It will never again be divided.”
He went on to recount a memory about a proposal for the exchange of historical artifacts between Israel and Turkey, saying that Yılmaz had refused such a deal due to the sensitivities of Turkish public opinion. Netanyahu then added: “Now, after 2,000 years, we have taken back our city, regained our independence, built an independent state and a strong army. This is our city, Mr. Erdoğan, not yours. It will always remain our city and it will never be divided.”
