Turkey's Erdogan calls Israel 'terror state' over Palestinian clashes at Al-Aqsa

Turkish President TayyipErdogancalledIsraela "terror state" on Saturday afterIsraeli police fired rubber bullets and stun grenades towards rock-hurlingPalestinianyouth at Jerusalem'sAl-Aqsamosque on Friday.

He added that Ankara had launched initiatives to mobilise internationalinstitutions.

Theclashesat Islam's third-holiest site and around East Jerusalem, which injured at least 205Palestinians and 17 police officers, came amid mounting angeroverthe potentialeviction ofPalestinians from homes on land claimed by Jewish settlers.Israel's Supreme Court will hold a hearing on the case on Monday.

Speaking at an event in Istanbul,Erdogancalled onall Muslim countries and the internationalcommunity to take "effective" steps againstIsrael, adding that those who remain silent were "a party to the cruelty there."

"The cruelIsrael,terror stateIsraelis mercilessly and unethically attacking Muslims in Jerusalem,"Erdogansaid.

He added that Turkey had "immediately launched the necessary initiatives to get the United Nations, Organisation for Islamic Cooperation andall relevant institutions to take action."

SeveralTurkish officials criticisedIsraellate on Friday asclasheserupted, and most opposition parties echoed the condemnations, in a rare sign of unity.

There was no immediate response to a request for comment fromIsrael's foreign ministry. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that law and order would be maintained in Jerusalem as would the right to worship.

Hundreds of people crowded outsideIsrael's embassy in Ankara and its consulate in Istanbul late on Friday, despite a nationwide COVID-19 lockdown, in protest of the violence in Jerusalem andAl-Aqsa.

Turkey has condemned what it said wasIsrael's "systematic attempt at evictingPalestinians", referring to the long-running legalcase.Erdoganon Saturday called for evictions to be halted.

"Otherwise, we will do everything we can to ensure the cruel are sentenced to the fate they deserve," he warned, without elaborating.

Formerallies Turkey andIsraelhave had a bitter falling-out in recent years despite strong commercialties, mutually expelling ambassadors in 2018.

Ankara has repeatedly condemnedIsrael's occupation of the West Bank and its treatment ofPalestinians, while playing down prospects of a rapprochement amid sharp policy differences.

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has said any rapprochement between the two sides was unlikely as long asIsraeli policies towardsPalestinians continued, andErdoganhas said that while Ankara would like to improve ties withIsrael, it cannot abandon itsPalestinianpolicy.

On Friday, Cavusoglu held talks in Ankara withPalestinianForeign Minister Riyadal-Maliki.