![Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) meets with Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah (L) at Halic Congress Center in Istanbul, Turkey on May 8 2017 [Turkish Presidency / Yasin Bulbul / Handout/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/20170508_2_23551404_21866229.jpg?fit=1084%2C800&ssl=1)
Israeli authorities slammed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over his criticism of Tel Aviv’s violations against Palestinians and the Judaisation of the holy city of Jerusalem, Quds Press reported yesterday.
Spokesman of the Israeli Foreign Ministry said: “Those who systematically violate human rights in their own country should not preach to the only true democracy in the region.”
“Israel consistently protects total freedom of worship for Jews, Muslims and Christians – and will continue to do so despite the baseless slander launched against it.”
Read: Israeli minister: We should not have apologised to Turkey
Meanwhile, the former Israeli Minister Gideon Saar told Israel’s Channel 7: “Erdogan is still a strategic ally with Hamas and Al-Nusra Front… He has been accusing Israel of practicing apartheid against the Palestinians.”
During a meeting with Palestinian Authority (PA) Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah in Istanbul, Erdogan pledged not to allow the Israeli bill which bans the Muslim call to prayer to go ahead.
He also called for all Muslims to increase visits to Al-Aqsa Mosque in order to undermine Israeli plans to judaise the holy city.