Turkey’s Expanding Footprint in East Jerusalem, Near the Temple Mount

As Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan repeatedly voices threats of a military confrontation with Israel amid worsening relations between the two countries, another kind of struggle is unfolding in Jerusalem. Far from the public clashes, Turkey is gradually deepening its activity in the eastern part of the city and channeling large sums of money to local nonprofits, institutions, and projects as part of an effort to expand its influence in the capital, according to an investigation published this morning (Wednesday) by i24 NEWS.

According to the investigation, Turkish activity relies heavily on the use of “soft power,” rooted in the ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood. Dozens of funded nonprofits and charitable organizations provide residents with a wide range of services and assistance: financial grants and monthly support for merchants and families, food and winter-supply distribution, legal advice, as well as computers and educational equipment.

Alongside direct aid, Turkish money is also directed toward educational and cultural programs. These include supplementary education programs, youth clubs and sports activities, as well as Turkish-language courses. Some of the cultural activities are centered at the “Yunus Emre” center. In the Old City, the historic “Haseki Sultan” kitchen also continues to operate, providing meals to anyone in need for centuries.

One of the main bodies involved in these initiatives is the Turkish aid agency “TİKA” (TIKA), which operates under government oversight. But alongside its aid work, serious allegations have also emerged regarding where the funds end up. A former British diplomat said that these nonprofits also transfer money to terrorist organizations, and that the agency serves as a tool for Turkish intelligence activity. Yasser Murtaja, a senior Hamas figure previously arrested by the Shin Bet, also headed a TİKA project in the Gaza Strip.

Turkey’s presence does not end in East Jerusalem neighborhoods and the alleyways of the Old City. It also reaches one of Israel’s most sensitive locations: the Temple Mount compound. Support there includes funding for religious studies known as “study benches,” as well as activity by the “Murabitat” organization, a women’s force identified with the northern branch of the Islamic Movement, which has been outlawed in Israel.

Through this broad network, Erdoğan’s government seeks to position Turkey as a “guardian of Islam” and as a force working to protect Al-Aqsa. At the same time, Turkey’s presence is becoming increasingly visible in stores, institutions, and neighborhoods across East Jerusalem.