Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's announcement last week of his intention to annex the Jordan Valley following Tuesday's general election shows that Israel is becoming a "racist, apartheid regime," Turkey's foreign minister was quoted as saying on Sunday.
Netanyahu convened his final pre-election cabinet meeting on Sunday in the Jordan Valley, reiterating his pledge to annex the area.
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On Saturday, Turkey's foreign ministry said the Organization of Islamic Cooperation would convene in Jiddah on Sunday to discuss Netanyahu's statement.
Speaking in Jiddah, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said Netanyahu's "embarrassing" plan was a "despicable" attempt to earn votes ahead of Tuesday's election, and criticized what he called a lack of reaction from other Muslim countries.
"Israel, encouraged by the support of certain countries, is continuing its aggressive policies that are turning it into a racist, apartheid regime," Çavuşoğlu was quoted as saying by the state-run Anadolu news agency.
"If the whole Muslim community had reacted together, the reckless plans, policies and behavior of the United States and Israel would never have reached this point," Çavuşoğlu said.
Turkey and Israel, former allies, have long been at odds over Israel's policy toward the Palestinians and Jerusalem's status. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called for a summit of the OIC twice last year after US President Donald Trump decided to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
Turkey and Israel also expelled each other's top diplomats last year during a dispute over clashes between the IDF and Hamas-backed Palestinians rioters on the Gaza border. The two sides continue to trade with one another.
