Israel denies 'summoning' Turkish ambassador

JERUSALEM (AA) - The Israeli Foreign Ministry on Tuesday denied reports that it had “summoned” Turkey’s ambassador to Tel Aviv over recent remarks about Jerusalem by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

“The Turkish ambassador was not summoned, but rather there was a clarification by phone,” the ministry explained in a Tuesday statement.

On Tuesday morning, Israeli daily The Jerusalem Post reported that the Israeli government had “summoned” the Turkish ambassador over remarks made by Erdogan one day earlier at an opening ceremony in Istanbul for the International Forum on Al-Quds Waqfs.

In an address delivered at the event, the Turkish president criticized Israel’s ongoing occupation of East Jerusalem, calling on Muslims to visit Jerusalem to show solidarity with the occupied Palestinians.

"We as Muslims should visit Al-Quds [Jerusalem] more often," Erdogan said.

"Al-Quds is sacred to all three divine religions," he added. "We will continue exerting efforts to make Al-Quds a city of peace."