GATESTONE
by Burak Bekdil
May 30, 2015

It is truly fascinating that Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a professor of political science, believes that Jerusalem, built a millennium before the birth of Islam, is originally a Muslim city. And, according to the Turkish president, — Saudis should please not get offended — Jerusalem is the Muslims’ “most important Mecca.” Jerusalem has always had a spectacular place in a Turkish Islamist’s heart and mind. But pre-election fervour in Turkey has lifted “Jerusalem-fetish” to new heights….Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, formerly foreign minister, has reiterated countless times since he joined the Turkish cabinet in 2009 that, “We will have prayers at the al-Aqsa mosque in the Palestinian capital ‘Quds’ ([Jerusalem].” This wish remains to be fulfilled. But that does not discourage Turkish leaders from cherishing increasing doses of “Jerusalem-fetish.” READ MORE