JERUSALEM — Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli called for the immediate closure of the Turkish Consulate in Jerusalem. Chikli cited a Jerusalem Center for Applied Policy report alleging Turkish efforts to undermine Israeli sovereignty.

The Jerusalem Center for Applied Policy published a report titled Turkey's Phased Plan to Conquer Jerusalem: Neo-Ottoman Ambitions and the Muslim Brotherhood Doctrine. The document alleges that Turkey is pursuing a long-term campaign to expand its influence in Jerusalem through political, civil, and ideological channels. The report argues that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan views Jerusalem as a central strategic objective within a broader regional vision to restore Turkish influence across the Middle East.

The report claims Turkey is expanding its presence in Jerusalem through cultural institutions, nonprofit organizations, academic scholarships, social initiatives, and economic assistance. It further states that Ankara provides Hamas with political and semi-official operating space and allows senior Hamas officials to work from Turkish territory. The document also states that Turkey maintains coordination between Hamas leaders and Turkey's National Intelligence Organization.

Chikli said, "There is no place for the continued operation of a diplomatic body that acts against Israel's sovereignty in Jerusalem and, in practice, advances the interests of Hamas and the Turkish regime." The minister linked the consulate's operations to the broader findings of the policy study. The Jerusalem Center for Applied Policy describes the Turkish Consulate in Jerusalem as a central hub for advancing Turkish policy in the city. The report states that the consulate works closely with the Palestinian Authority.

It alleges that Turkey seeks to strengthen Hamas's influence in Jerusalem and the West Bank through a network of local organizations and associations. The report claims that Turkey provides financial support to over 100 Palestinian NGOs in Jerusalem, many of which are affiliated with Islamist groups.

The document argues that Turkey's long-term strategy is based on a scenario in which Hamas and the Palestinian Authority reconcile. This reconciliation would lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. The report also claims Ankara is strengthening its position in the Gaza Strip, entrenching its military presence in northern Syria, and increasing its involvement in Lebanon. It states that Ankara already maintains a large military presence in northern Syria.

The report claims Turkey is seeking to expand its role in Lebanon by portraying IDF operations there as a threat to Turkish interests. The JCAP report authors argue that Israel should formulate a comprehensive diplomatic and strategic response to curb Turkey's expanding involvement and its influence over Palestinian and regional power centers. Chikli said, "In light of this study, I once again call for the closure of the Turkish Consulate and the removal of every Turkish government presence, including state-run television channels."

The Jerusalem Center for Applied Policy was founded in 2002 and is led by Haim Silber, a former Israeli diplomat and political strategist. The report on Turkey's influence in Jerusalem was authored by Ran Yishai, a former Israeli ambassador to Kazakhstan and former director general of the Jerusalem and Heritage Ministry. In 2020, the center published a report titled 'The Dangerous Axis: From Ankara to the Streets of Jerusalem,' which warned of Turkish and Islamist influence in Israel and the Middle East.

In 2023, the center issued a report calling for restrictions on the Turkish Consulate in Jerusalem, arguing that the consulate operates primarily with the Palestinian Authority rather than the Turkish government. The center has previously recommended the closure of the Turkish Consulate in Jerusalem, as seen in its 2023 policy paper titled 'The Turkish Presence in Jerusalem: A Strategic Threat.' In 2022, the Israeli government revoked the diplomatic immunity of Turkish officials in Jerusalem as part of a broader strategy to counter perceived Turkish influence.