Turkey's Erdo?an calls Abbas, condemns Israeli aggression at Al-Aqsa

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an has condemned Israeli forces? targeting of Muslim groups inside Jerusalem?s Al-Aqsa mosque compound, pledging to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that Ankara will continue to strive to boost international awareness of the plight of the Palestinians, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

Erdo?an called Abbas on Sept. 14, according to sources from the Turkish president?s office. In the talk, Erdo?an ?condemned? Israeli forces? clashes with Muslims upon entering the al-Haram al-Sharif on the morning of Sept. 13 and their forcible denial of access to Muslims for a certain period of time. 

The Turkish president reportedly described the incidents as ?worrying,? while pledging that Turkey would do its best to make the international community ?more sensitive? on the matter.

Earlier on Sept. 14, police and Palestinian stone throwers clashed for a second day in a row at Jerusalem?s most sensitive holy site. The compound is holy to Jews as the Temple Mount, site of the two biblical Jewish temples. Muslims revere it as the Noble Sanctuary where they believe the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven. The fate of the site is a core issue at the heart of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

The holy site is a frequent flashpoint of violence. On Sept. 13, police clashed with Palestinians who barricaded themselves inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque and threw rocks and firecrackers. A Jewish man wearing a traditional prayer shawl was attacked as he passed through a nearby alleyway in the old city.

Since Israel captured east Jerusalem from Jordan in 1967, Jewish worshippers have been allowed to visit - but not pray - at the site. The area is administered by Muslim authorities and is under Jordanian...