On Friday (September 19, 2025), in his speech at the United Nations General Assembly, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan harshly addressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stating: “Turkey will not give even a pebble from Jerusalem, especially the historical Silwan inscription, to anyone.”
These words were in response to Netanyahu’s recent claim that: “Jerusalem is our city, Mr. Erdogan, it does not belong to you, it belongs to us; it will always be our city and will never be divided again.”
In his speech, Erdogan emphasized that Jerusalem is important not only for the Palestinians but also for the entire Islamic world, and that Turkey will resist any attempt to change the historical and legal status of the holy sites, especially Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The Silwan inscription that Erdogan referred to is an ancient monument in the Silwan area of Jerusalem that Israel claims ownership of but that the Palestinians and the Islamic world consider part of their historical heritage.
