17:I[87134,["/_next/static/chunks/abf43a076ddbd945.js?dpl=dpl_F6KiLDDFSAiMcLzw3V2cQMgAbhkA","/_next/static/chunks/5ac73fe2b25fc6c9.js?dpl=dpl_F6KiLDDFSAiMcLzw3V2cQMgAbhkA","/_next/static/chunks/92bdbfeca3f655f7.js?dpl=dpl_F6KiLDDFSAiMcLzw3V2cQMgAbhkA","/_next/static/chunks/733be0453bf96ece.js?dpl=dpl_F6KiLDDFSAiMcLzw3V2cQMgAbhkA","/_next/static/chunks/27718c319dd13e9b.js?dpl=dpl_F6KiLDDFSAiMcLzw3V2cQMgAbhkA","/_next/static/chunks/34c922b381f458e9.js?dpl=dpl_F6KiLDDFSAiMcLzw3V2cQMgAbhkA","/_next/static/chunks/c85eefbddd563073.js?dpl=dpl_F6KiLDDFSAiMcLzw3V2cQMgAbhkA"],"default"] 18:T51e,

“O Lord, grant me the governorship of Jerusalem,” Turkey’s Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci declared, recalling his earlier prayer from his tenure as governor of Corum and Erzurum during remarks at the AK Party Corum Provincial Advisory Council meeting on Saturday.

Tying his comments to the recent fall of the Assad regime, the interior minister expressed hope that he would witness Jerusalem “liberated” in similar fashion to Damascus, adding that one day “those lands will be ours once again.”

The Assad regime collapsed in December 2024 following the takeover by former Islamist insurgent Ahmed al-Sharaa. Since that time Syria has faced ongoing sectarian violence.

President Sharaa has received broad acceptance from Western governments, many of which have acted swiftly to remove sanctions on Damascus.

Interior Minister praises Erdogan's global role

“God willing, they will come under our sovereignty and dominion once more. Because we have a global leader like Recep Tayyip Erdogan at our helm. A world leader,” Ciftci said.

The Ottoman Empire ruled over the region of Israel for more than 400 years until its defeat by Allied forces in World War I. In 1918 its leaders signed the Armistice of Mudros, yielding to Britain.