ISTANBUL (AP)–Some 500 pro-Islamic Turks held an anti-Israel protest in Istanbul on Monday over violence at a Jerusalem holy site claimed by both Arabs and Jews.
The protesters marched toward the heavily guarded Israeli Consulate and burned an Israeli flag, chanting, “We will protect Al-Aqsa mosque.” Muslims regard Al-Aqsa as Islam’s third-holiest site.
Relations between Israel and Turkey – a key Muslim ally – have soured since Israel’s war against Islamic militants in Gaza at the beginning of this year.
Earlier this month, Turkey canceled a military exercise in which Israeli pilots were planned to participate. Tensions deepened after Turkey’s state-run TV aired a drama series that portrays Israeli soldiers as cruel and repressive.
istambul@ bidi lini aryan dzov…