LOC23:51
20:51 GMT
ANKARA, July 21 (KUNA) -- Turkey called Friday on Israel to listen to calls from the international community and to immediately lift all restrictions, including electronic gates at the entrances of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
In a statement, Turkish Foreign Ministry expressed regret and deep concern over the failure to hold Friday prayers once again this week, at the holy site in Jerusalem and to the fall of martyrs and the injuries of dozens of Palestinians during earlier clashes.
The ministry noted that Israel's respect for the sanctity of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem occupied since 1967 and its respect for the historic status of the holy site is a human and legal obligation.
The statement called on Israel to return to previous measures without any delay, adding that achieving this would leads to calm and tranquility.
Last night, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on Israeli counterpart Reuven Rivlin to allow Muslims to enter Al-Aqsa Mosque without restrictions as part of freedom of religion and worship. (end)
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