President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who completed the Gulf tour, made explanations to journalists at the Esenboğa Airport.

Following his visit to Saudi, Kuwait, and Qatar, President Erdogan said, “Israel is heading in the wrong direction with the steps it has taken and let me say it very clearly it is heading towards isolation” related to the attacks of zionist invaders in the Masjid al-Aqsa. Responding to the “Will the Head of Religious Affairs change?” question, President Erdoğan said, “The president is still on his duty. There is no the matter of dismissal.”

Erdoğan stated: “We have addressed the Qatar crisis and we have consulted what we can do at the point of settlement of the Qatar issue. It is important to underline the fact that it is easy to demolish. It is very difficult to build demolitions. It takes more time and effort in relations between states. I believe that his visits and meetings are a significant step toward rebuilding stability and climate of mutual trust. We have agreed on the continuation of our relations in Saudi Arabia. I told King Selman that we had a high expectation for the solution of the crisis.”

“Restrictions towards Masjid al-Aqsa are unacceptable”

Erdoğan stated that they had discussed the Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Palestine issues, said, “We have expressed that the restrictions, the Israeli administration imposes on the Al Aqsa Mosque, are unacceptable. These steps that disregard Muslims’ right to worship and violate the sanctity of the Al Aqsa Mosque further escalate the tension. Equating Muslims, who come for worship, with terrorists is a grave eclipse of reason. The Al Aqsa Mosque is the apple of all Muslims’ eyes. I, as term president of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation which was established to protect Quds, call on Israel once again to act in accordance with the law, conventional practices, and humanitarian values.”

 “How would they react if Jews in different countries were treated like that”

Responding to the accounts of the zionist occupation Netanyahu’s statements, Erdoğan, said, “There is no legitimate side of Netanyahu's statements.” Recalling the Israeli police’s armed and harsh treatment toward people going to pray that resulted in martyrs and hundreds of wounded, President Erdoğan said: “How would they react if Jews in different countries were treated like that? Look, we have been taking all kinds of measures to ensure such incidents do not take place in our country.  Why? Because it is important for us to protect houses of prayer. Unfortunately, we have been seeing similar incidents in various places in the West that set off each other, in other words, attacks on Muslims’ houses of prayer. However, the Haram al-Sharif is very different. It was the first Qibla of Muslims across the world. We all have a responsibility for that place. Now, September nears and it will be brought up in September. Israel is heading in the wrong direction with the steps it has taken and let me say it very clearly it is heading towards isolation.”

"President asked for another task, we will meet with the Prime Minister"

President Erdogan answered a question about the allegation that the Director of Religious Affairs Mehmet Görmez left his office: “There is no such step yet. There is the demand of the President for the future to continue with a different task. This will be decided by Mr. Prime Minister. There is no the matter of dismissal.”

ILKHA