Likud Member of Knesset (MK) and former mayor of Jerusalem Nir Barkat on Wednesday asked US Ambassador David Friedman to promote US sanctions on Turkey, after a report by the British Daily Telegraph revealed that Hamas terrorists in Turkey planned attacks on Israel, including plans to assassinate Barkat as well as other prominent Israeli figures.
Barkat said he spoke to Friedman, requesting that the US lead international sanctions against the Turkish authorities, who allowed terrorists to act freely in the country.
“Turkey has once again been shown to be a warm home for terror groups like Hamas and others who are actively working to hurt Israel. The US must lead in enacting tough international sanctions against the Turkish regime,” he added.
Barkat compared the Turkish government to that of Iran, saying they both actively support terror.
“This is a government just like Iran that defends and promotes terror. This is not the first time I have heard about this terror cell, but this time we learned that Turks are the ones who helped them,” he said.
Barkat added that the terrorists’ efforts will not “stop my work on behalf of the State of Israel,” he added.
According to the Telegraph’s report, Hamas promoted terror operations in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria with directions from coordinators in Istanbul, while Turkish authorities knowingly allowed the terror cell to operate.