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Israeli Minister Slams Turkey’s Jerusalem Prayer, Reaffirms Capital Claim

6/9/2026

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Katz Slams Turkey

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz attacked Turkey’s neo-Ottoman ambitions, reaffirming Israel’s claim that Jerusalem will remain its capital forever.
Turkey’s Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci stated he prayed to govern Jerusalem for a day during a visit to Corum, Turkey, on Saturday.
Katz posted a lengthy tirade on X, ridiculing Ciftci’s remarks while critics describe Katz’s prior calls to cut off Gaza’s resources as genocidal.
Palestinians regard East Jerusalem as occupied territory and the future capital of a Palestinian state, while Turkey had not issued an official reply.

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Ciftci Prays Jerusalem

Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci recalled praying for Jerusalem’s governorship while serving as Corum governor.
The remarks expressed a wish for Jerusalem to fall under Turkish sovereignty during a Saturday speech in Corum, Turkey.
Mustafa Ciftci's interior-minister role, overseeing domestic security agencies, amplifies the significance of his statements.
Israeli officials condemned the remarks, prompting heavy traffic on Turkish and Israeli media outlets.

History

Historical Context

After the 1967 Six-Day War Israel extended its law to 17,600 acres of East Jerusalem, a move the UN deemed annexation. In July 1980 the Knesset enacted the Jerusalem Law, declaring a united capital, which the Security Council nullified on 20 August 1980 (Resolution 478). Today Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci’s prayer and Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz’s remarks revive that contested claim.

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Katz Slams Turkey

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz attacked Turkey’s neo-Ottoman ambitions, reaffirming Israel’s claim that Jerusalem will remain its capital forever.
Turkey’s Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci stated he prayed to govern Jerusalem for a day during a visit to Corum, Turkey, on Saturday.
Katz posted a lengthy tirade on X, ridiculing Ciftci’s remarks while critics describe Katz’s prior calls to cut off Gaza’s resources as genocidal.
Palestinians regard East Jerusalem as occupied territory and the future capital of a Palestinian state, while Turkey had not issued an official reply.

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