ANKARA: Diplomatic tensions between Turkey and Israel have resurfaced after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday described the latter鈥檚 policy toward Palestinians as 鈥渞acist.鈥�
Israel summoned the Turkish ambassador after the remarks made by Erdogan during a conference about promoting economic development in Palestine.
Erdogan criticized Israeli policy toward Palestinians as 鈥渄iscriminatory,鈥� and underlined that permanent peace in the Middle East will only be possible after establishing a fully sovereign and independent Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Each day that Jerusalem remains under 鈥渙ccupation鈥� is an insult, Erdogan said, calling on Muslims to stand up for Palestinian rights. He also associated Israeli actions against Palestinians with apartheid practices in South Africa.
The strongly-worded statements came less than a year after a normalization deal between the two countries, including the restoration of diplomatic ties at ambassadorial level, following a serious crisis after 10 activists were killed in the 2010 Israeli raid on the Gaza flotilla.
Erdogan also criticized a recent bill in the Israeli parliament to ban the use of loudspeakers for the Muslim call to prayer late at night and early in the morning.
鈥淚f you have faith in your religion, why are you afraid of the call to prayer?鈥� he said. 鈥淕od willing, we will never allow the silencing of azan (call to prayers) in the skies of Jerusalem.鈥�
Israel summoned Turkey鈥檚 ambassador to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs following Erdogan鈥檚 statement. Ministry Spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon quickly released a statement pointing the finger at Turkey.
鈥淭hose who systematically violate human rights in their own country shouldn鈥檛 preach morality to the region鈥檚 only true democracy,鈥� the statement said.
鈥淚srael consistently protects total freedom of worship for Jews, Muslims, Christians, and will continue to do so despite baseless smears against it.鈥�
Israel鈥檚 Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein also called the Turkish president an 鈥渆nemy鈥� of Israel despite the reconciliation between the two countries.
Analysts interviewed by Arab News said such statements will make it difficult to rebuild the mutual trust between the two countries after years of diplomatic crisis.

Nimrod Goren, head of Mitvim 鈥� The Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies 鈥� said Erdogan鈥檚 critical statements come at a time of positive momentum between Israel and Turkey.
鈥淭he exchange of ambassadors led to increased engagement between the countries over the last several months. Cooperation between officials, academics, civil society institutions and cultural actors has been on the rise. Erdogan鈥檚 statements do not seem to reflect a change of national interests,鈥� Goren told Arab News.
According to Goren, Turkey and Israel still benefit from improving relations, and do not want to step back. However, 鈥渆ven if the countries will manage to focus on constructive practical actions and to contain the current negative statements, Erdogan鈥檚 words have negative consequences,鈥� he added.
Goren noted that the ability to convey messages about the peace process in a constructive manner is vital.
鈥淪ome Arab leaders are currently finding the way to do so. Unfortunately, this wasn鈥檛 the case with Erdogan鈥檚 recent statements,鈥� said Goren.
Selin Nasi, a doctoral researcher on Turkey-Israel relations from Bogazici University in Istanbul, said Erdogan鈥檚 words were mainly for domestic consumption.
鈥淧resident Erdogan鈥檚 criticism of Israel does not mark a shift in policy, yet it seems to serve鈥� to mobilize domestic support around the Palestinian issue just before the Nakba Day commemorated a day after Israel鈥檚 Independence (Day) on May 14, while presenting Turkey as a regional power once more by acting as the sole protector of Palestinians,鈥� Nasi told Arab News.
Given Turkey and Israel鈥檚 broader regional interests 鈥� such as energy cooperation, fighting terrorism and balancing against Iran 鈥� it is unlikely they will abandon the reconciliation deal, Nasi said.
鈥淓ven before the normalization deal, President Erdogan鈥檚 constant bashing of Israel was a critical point, which the Israeli government strongly complained about and sought reassurances that would never happen again in the aftermath of the deal,鈥� she said.
鈥淗owever, this recent diplomatic spat will unfortunately and inevitably have a negative impact on (the) normalization process and hinder efforts to rebuild trust.鈥�