[Today's Prayer] Turkish Minister Says, "Jerusalem Will Be Ours Again"... Israel Reacts Angrily

A Turkish cabinet minister sparked strong backlash from Israel after making remarks suggesting that Jerusalem, which Israel considers its capital, should be liberated and brought under Turkish control.

According to a post on X (formerly Twitter) by Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi on June 8 (local time), he recalled praying during a speech at a ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) event on June 6, saying, "Lord, grant me the position of governor of Jerusalem, even for just one day."

Minister Çiftçi added, "Just as we witnessed the liberation of Damascus, Aleppo, and Karabakh, by God's will we will one day witness the liberation of Jerusalem as well."

He continued, "As in the past, those places will once again be ours," emphasizing, "God willing, they will once again come under our rule and control."

(Excerpt omitted)

In Syria, the approximately 14-year civil war came to an end in December 2024 when Ahmed al-Sharaa, leader of the Sunni Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which had received support from pro-Turkish rebel forces, overthrew dictator Bashar al-Assad and took power.

In Nagorno-Karabakh, a mountainous region in the Caucasus long disputed between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Azerbaijan gained complete control of the area in September 2023 with strong backing from Turkey.

Having been deeply involved in regional conflicts in recent years, Turkey has also taken a clear stance supporting Hamas and other Palestinian liberation groups since the Gaza war began in October 2023, placing it in direct opposition to the Israeli government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israel captured East Jerusalem, a holy site for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, during the 1967 Six-Day War and declared Jerusalem its capital. However, much of the international community does not recognize this claim. The Palestinian Authority maintains that Jerusalem should be the capital of an independent Palestinian state.

The day after Minister Çiftçi's remarks, Israel's Foreign Ministry responded in an English-language statement, saying, "Wake up and smell the coffee," an idiom meaning to face reality.

The ministry added, "The corrupt Ottoman Empire is gone forever," and emphasized that "Jerusalem, the City of David, will remain Israel's eternal capital."

(Excerpt omitted)

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz responded in both Hebrew and Turkish, stating, "Jerusalem is not Constantinople, and Israel is not a collapsing Crusader kingdom."

Minister Katz added, "Israel is a strong and determined nation that has proven its ability to defend itself against every threat. Jerusalem has been the capital of the Jewish people for 3,000 years and will remain the capital of Israel forever."

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Source: Nate News

"Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and bless His name." (Psalm 100:3–4)

Heavenly Father, we hear the news that Israel has reacted strongly to statements made by a Turkish minister suggesting that Jerusalem, Israel's capital, should be liberated and placed under Turkish control.

Please have mercy on the people of Israel and Jerusalem, who have endured attacks and criticism from many nations and peoples throughout history. Touch the hearts of the stubborn peoples of the Middle East who continue in conflict.

Though the ruler of the power of the air continues to claim Israel and Jerusalem as his own and opposes Your Word, may the nations come to recognize that You alone are the One who forever protects and shepherds this people.

May Israel, Turkey, and the peoples of the Middle East come to know that the LORD is their Creator and their God, and may they arise as Your people who enter Your courts with praise.

Do not let the global Church ignore Your heart for the Middle East. May believers never cease praying for the peace of Jerusalem, the city You love.

And may the shalom of Yeshua be proclaimed among Israel, Turkey, and all the peoples of the Middle East. May true worship, filled with thanksgiving and the fulfillment of vows, be restored among them. Amen.