Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli known as on Thursday for the fast closure of the Turkish Consulate in Jerusalem after the discharge of a brand new strategic examine alleging that Ankara is pursuing a long-term marketing campaign to increase its affect within the metropolis by way of political, civil, and ideological channels whereas supporting Hamas.
The report, revealed by the Jerusalem Heart for Utilized Coverage (JCAP), is titled Turkey’s Phased Plan to Conquer Jerusalem: Neo-Ottoman Ambitions and the Muslim Brotherhood Doctrine. It argues that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan views Jerusalem as a central strategic goal inside a broader regional imaginative and prescient to revive Turkish affect throughout the Center East.
Based on the examine, Turkey is concurrently advancing its pursuits on a number of fronts, together with increasing its presence in Jerusalem by way of cultural establishments, nonprofit organizations, educational scholarships, social initiatives, and financial help. The report additionally claims Ankara is strengthening its place within the Gaza Strip, entrenching its army presence in northern Syria, and rising its involvement in Lebanon as a part of what it describes as a unified regional technique.
A central discovering of the report focuses on Turkey’s relationship with Hamas. Based on the authors, Ankara supplies the terrorist group with political and semi-official working house, permits senior Hamas officers to work from Turkish territory, and maintains coordination between Hamas leaders and Turkey’s Nationwide Intelligence Group (MIT).
The report additional alleges that Turkey seeks to strengthen Hamas’s affect in Jerusalem and the West Financial institution by way of a community of native organizations and associations.
The examine additionally argues that Turkey’s long-term technique relies on a state of affairs during which Hamas and the Palestinian Authority reconcile, resulting in the institution of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. Based on the report’s authors, such a improvement may pave the best way for Turkey to be invited to function a patron of the town and its holy websites, doubtlessly offering Ankara with each diplomatic and army affect in Jerusalem.
The report additionally examines Turkey’s army posture elsewhere within the area. It says Ankara already maintains a major army presence in northern Syria and is in search of to increase its position in Lebanon by portraying IDF operations there as a menace to Turkish pursuits, thereby laying the groundwork for doable future army involvement. In Gaza, the examine identifies what it describes as continued Turkish efforts to deepen ties with Hamas and increase its regional affect.
Examine reveals Turkish consulate encourages terrorism
A separate part of the report focuses on the Turkish Consulate in Jerusalem, which the researchers describe as a central hub for advancing Turkish coverage within the metropolis. Based on the examine, the consulate works carefully with the Palestinian Authority, encourages the actions of Islamist organizations and native associations, and helps construct long-term affect infrastructure in Jerusalem.
Responding to the findings, Chikli mentioned there was no justification for permitting the diplomatic mission to proceed working.
“There is no such thing as a place for the continued operation of a diplomatic physique that acts in opposition to Israel’s sovereignty in Jerusalem and, in follow, advances the pursuits of Hamas and the Turkish regime,” he mentioned.
Authors argue Israel should formulate technique to counter Turkish affect
The report’s authors conclude that the problem posed by Turkey extends past political rhetoric and encompasses ideological, financial, civil, and safety actions designed to ascertain long-term affect in Jerusalem and its surrounding areas. They argue that Israel ought to formulate a complete diplomatic and strategic response to curb Turkey’s increasing involvement and its affect over Palestinian and regional energy facilities.
Chikli reiterated his name on the conclusion of the occasion, saying, “In mild of this examine, I as soon as once more name for the closure of the Turkish Consulate and the elimination of each Turkish authorities presence, together with state-run tv channels.”
