Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz attacked President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftci over comments regarding Jerusalem, escalating an already tense war of words between Ankara and Tel Aviv.
In a statement shared on social media, Katz responded to remarks made by Çiftci, who recently expressed his wish to one day serve as governor of Jerusalem and voiced confidence that the city would eventually come under Turkish administration.
“Jerusalem has been the capital of the Jewish people for 3,000 years and will remain the capital of Israel forever,” Katz wrote. He rejected what he described as aspirations to revive Ottoman influence in the region and argued that Israel remains capable of defending itself against any threats.
Katz also commented on Erdoğan’s leadership and referenced the legacy of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, claiming that modern Türkiye was being moved away from the principles established by its founder.
The comments came after Çiftci spoke at a meeting organized by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) in the central province of Çorum. During the event, the interior minister praised Erdoğan’s leadership and expressed hope that Jerusalem would one day be “free,” drawing comparisons with developments in other regional conflicts.
