A Turkish organization, seeking to deepen Turkish influence in Jerusalem, has launched this summer a series of summer camps for Arab children in east Jerusalem.
The group, named "Our Heritage," posted details of its activity on social media, saying "We teach the children in our Jerusalem … [that] they are the legal owners of this country."
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As part of the Turkish-funded summer camp activities, children were taken on a hike to the Sataf nature reserve to the west of Jerusalem.
Our Heritage operates in east Jerusalem as an arm of the Turkish government. Its goals are to promote the Turkish agenda among the population of east Jerusalem and deepen the historical and cultural legacy of the Ottoman Empire in Jerusalem, which they call "preserving Ottoman history in Jerusalem for future generations."
Maor Tzemach, chairman of the Lach, Yerushalayim ["For You, Jerusalem"] group, discussed the latest Turkish activity with Israel Hayom, saying that the Our Heritage organization was "showing off in the Arab sector in Jerusalem with the goal of causing them to adopt the positions of Turkey."
"This subversive organization is operating free summer camps for east Jerusalem children. Israel must put a stop to the Turkish organization's activities immediately. The Turkish 'Our Heritage' has crossed a red line of what is acceptable [conduct] between countries.
"Its subversive activity, which attacks Israeli sovereignty in the capital city of Jerusalem, must stop today. We cannot be repeatedly made aware of activity that attacks Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem with no deterrent political response," Tzemach said.
