Istanbul: Stating that conflicts in Muslim regions put Jerusalem on the back burner, Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus on Saturday suggested that the Muslim world could do more to protect Islam’s rightful place in Jerusalem, Anadolu Agency reported.
"Unfortunately, we see a Jerusalem that is under the occupation of Zionism, as well as Israel's violation of international law," said Kurtulmus, adding, "But it is also important that the Islamic world need to look at itself as well."
Speaking at a conference in Istanbul on Jerusalem in the Ottoman era, the Deputy Premier said that over the last decade, no Muslim country has made Jerusalem a priority issue, partially as a result of the conflicts plaguing Muslim regions.
"But now Jerusalem’s importance for the Muslim world is growing", he added.
"It is the policies and governments of Islamic nations that put Jerusalem on the back burner, not their peoples", he said.
"Humanity needs to learn lessons from Pax Ottomana," Kurtulmus said, referring to the centuries of peace in the Middle East under Ottoman rule.
Israel occupied the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, during the 1967 Middle East War. It annexed the entire city in 1980, claiming it as Israel’s “eternal” capital – a move never recognized by the international community.
International law views the West Bank and East Jerusalem as "occupied territory" and considers all Jewish settlement-building activity on the Palestinian land illegal.
Commenting on the open-ended hunger strike launched by 1,500 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails on April 17, Kurtulmus said the Israelis “are trying to end the hunger strikes with every kind of torture and pressure".
"These Palestinians are spiritually offended," he added.
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