Erdogan was referring to Israel’s recent inclusion of the Cave of the Patriarchs and Rachel’s Tomb on its national heritage list, but it was unclear why he mentioned the Aksa Mosque, since that site was not included.Speaking to Palestinian journalists, Erdogan reportedly said, "Palestine [was] always at the top of Turkey’s priorities." He expressed his support for the renewal of indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinians. Donning a cloak of pan-Islamic identity, Erdogan told Al Wattan that he “loves my brothers in Fatah and my brothers in Hamas to the same degree, because they are my Muslim brothers and I cannot distinguish between them.”Turkey’s prime minister began criticizing Israel in the wake ofOperation Cast Lead last year, and has been punctilious in voicing hisopinion on Israel’s actions since. In the recent past, he sharply criticized Israelduring press conferences with the Lebanese prime minister and with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Turkey also recently distanced itself from the United States,withdrawing the ambassador from Washington after a congressionalcommittee decided to recognize the killing of Armenians during World War Ias a genocide. In a sign of tensions between Israel and Turkey, Ankaradid not seek the help of Jewish lobbies in Washington, and thesegroups, which have traditionally advocated on behalf of Turkey, refrained thistime from pressing Congress not to accept the resolution.'Rachel's Tomb was never Jewish'
Speaking to Saudi paper, Turkish PM criticizes Israel's nat'l heritage list.
