Turkey's President Erdogan retaliates against Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu concerning Jerusalem's historical heritage issues
In the heart of Jerusalem, a historical artifact of significant importance to Jewish history resides, far from its original home. The Siloam Inscription, found during the Ottoman era, now resides in the Istanbul Archaeology Museum.
The inscription, which describes a canal transporting water from the Gihon Spring to the Pool of Siloam within the city walls, is considered the most important of three inscriptions related to Jewish history found in Turkey, according to Turkish historian Professor Erhan Afyoncu.
However, its location has been a point of contention, particularly in recent years. In 2007, Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupoliansk requested the inscription from the Turkish Ambassador to Israel, Namık Tan, but was rejected. The issue was brought up again in 2022 during Israeli President Herzog's visit to Turkey, where he was told that such a request was out of the question.
The conflict between Israel and Palestine has been a long-standing issue, and Turkey has advocated for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital as a permanent solution. This week, the U.N. Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory confirmed that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza.
The situation has led to strong words from political leaders. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan compared Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler, stating, "Zionist Israel can only be associated with terrorism and fascism." In response, Netanyahu stated, "Jerusalem is our city. Mr. Erdogan, this is not your city. This is our city. It will always be our city. It will never be divided again."
The relentless bombardment by the Israeli army in Gaza has led to a humanitarian crisis, with the enclave becoming uninhabitable, causing starvation, and spreading diseases. The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza last November.
The controversy surrounding the Siloam Inscription has not been absent from the discourse. Netanyahu has claimed that during a meeting with then Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz in 1998, Yılmaz refused to return a tablet with a Hebrew inscription found near the site. However, Afyoncu stated that when the inscription arrived in Istanbul in the late 19th century, Jerusalem was still Ottoman territory, and there was no state called Israel at that time.
The conflict continues, with both sides showing no signs of backing down. Erdogan doubled on his comparison, vowing that Turkey "will not allow unauthorized hands to pollute Jerusalem." Netanyahu, in turn, offered to replace the Siloam Inscription with "one of the thousands of Ottoman artifacts in our museums," but was turned down by Yılmaz.
As the situation unfolds, the Siloam Inscription remains a symbol of the deep-rooted tensions between Israel and Turkey, and the broader Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
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