Israel plans measures to 'curb Erdogan influence' in Jerusalem

Israel is looking to tighten restrictions on Turkey's international aid agency in Jerusalem and the Palestinian territories, in an apparent bid to counter the increasing influence of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the holy city.

According to the Hebrew-language paper Hadashot, Israel's National Security Council is drafting measures against the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), which operates in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip.

The report details that Israeli intelligence officials believe that TIKA has links to Hamas, the Islamist movement that runs the Gaza Strip, including hosting members of the movement at their offices, and transferring the group cash and information.

Israel is therefore seeking to use this intelligence to justify imposing tight restrictions on the agency, spurred on by Erdogan's recent efforts to galvanise the Muslim world's support for Palestinians against Israeli occupation and persecution.

Erdogan's actions have been particularly effective as they come at a time after inaction from other Arab neighbours and the international community. In addition, would-be peace broker the US ruptured its ties with the Palestinians by recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and withholding crucial funding for UNRWA, the UN agency that assists Palestinian refugees.

Twitter Post

For this reason, the Turkish strongman has been gaining unprecedented support among Palestinians who feel he is their only defender in the international arena.

On top of this, Israel is worried over the fact that Turkish Islamic associations have in recent years been sponsoring various programmes and trips for thousands of Palestinians, as well as being seen to "influence" protests at al-Aqsa Mosque and Temple Mount.

Another source of anxiety for some is that Turkish organisations are reportedly buying property in East Jerusalem through government charities, which has made the Palestinian Authority worry over "having another landlord in East Jerusalem," an Israeli official told Haaretz.

Turkey's upsurge in support has unsurprisingly panicked other Islamic powers, namely Saudi Arabia, who worries Erdogan may be able to claim himself as custodian of East Jerusalem's holy sites once Turkey has enough influence.

Erdogan publicly scolded Saudi Arabia for its failure to protect Jerusalem, warning this could lead to a failure to protect Mecca, criticism that few other leaders would dare voice.

Palestinians are still reeling after the de facto leader of the Saudi kingdom, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, publicly announced that Israel had a right to a peaceful homeland, days after dozens of Palestinians were shot dead for protesting in Gaza.

Turkey's relationship with Israel has been on the rocks recently, sparked by Erdogan's ferocious criticism of Israel, for taking part in "genocide" and being run as an "apartheid state".

The remarks prompted a tit-for-tat diplomatic spat between the countries who only two year ago signed a reconciliation agreement in 2016.

However for the foreseeable future, Erdogan, with his increasing powers at home and influence overseas, is expected to doggedly seek to exploit a vacuum of support for the Palestinian cause, until others from the international community vie to take the helm.