Erdogan: Muslims being targeted through blood, strife

ANKARA (Monitoring Desk): The Muslim world is the target of plots to reshape it to the benefit of others, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Saturday.

“Like a century ago, the Islamic world is facing efforts to reshape it through blood, tears, and strife between brothers,” Erdogan said in Istanbul, at the 7th Hadith and Sira Studies Awards Ceremony. He called on people “to be prepared for attacks which try to bring down Muslims from within.”

“When Muslims are at odds, the ones that benefit are terrorist groups, and countries like Israel that use state terror,” he said. Erdogan also reiterated his condemnation of U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

Erdogan said Israel enforced terror in Palestine and Turkey would do whatever is necessary within the legal framework if international organizations failed to take action on Jerusalem.

“We are calling on all countries who are members of the United Nations. Turkey will do whatever is necessary within the legal frame if the United Nations and Security Council fail to take action on Jerusalem,” Erdogan said.

“We will not abandon Jerusalem. We will not stop defending Palestine. Turkey’s stance on the Jerusalem matter is quite clear. To recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital is to reward Israel,” he added.

“We count every hand that extends toward Jerusalem as extending toward Istanbul. Palestine has become what Israel was in 1947. Israel is a country that uses state terror. We recently saw 20 terrorist Israeli soldiers dragging a Palestinian child. Does the U.S. and Trump not see this? Israel targets women, children and the disabled, and the U.S. turns a blind eye,” Erdogan said.

Erdogan said the OIC move would create a multiplier effect, encouraging other nations to follow in its lead.

Meanwhile, Turkey’s prime minister on Saturday reiterated his support for Palestine in the wake of a Muslim bloc meeting in Istanbul this week recognizing East Jerusalem as Palestine’s capital. “There is no country besides Turkey which has opened a mission for Palestine at the embassy level,” said Yildirim.