Once again, sharp exchanges have erupted between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, this time over the so-called “Siloam Inscription”. The sudden resurfacing of this archaeological relic has obscured the deeper political motives that prompted Netanyahu to revive the issue.
This is not merely a recurring dispute over the transfer of a historical stone tablet from Turkey to Israel. The re-emergence of the matter, especially in the presence of a US official, reflects broader calculations tied to the ongoing regional escalation since the launch of Operation al-Aqsa Flood nearly two years ago.
Exploiting History for Politics
Until recently, very few observers had even heard of the Siloam Inscription. But Netanyahu deliberately pulled it out of the archives during a high-profile event — the “Old Tunnel Opening” in occupied Jerusalem. With US Secretary of State Marco Rubio by his side, Netanyahu claimed the stone proves Jewish claims to Jerusalem and complained that it remains in Turkey.
He recalled earlier attempts to retrieve the artefact, dating back to the late 1990s when former Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz refused Netanyahu’s request due to strong Islamic sentiment rising under then-Istanbul mayor Erdoğan. Similar requests in 2007, 2017, and 2022 were all rejected by Ankara despite repeated lobbying from Israeli officials.
This time, however, Netanyahu escalated by addressing Erdoğan directly:
“Mr Erdoğan, Jerusalem is not your city, but ours. It will always remain so and will never be divided again. That is why I value President Trump’s leadership in declaring Jerusalem our capital. I am pleased Marco Rubio is with us, as he understands this represents our shared Judeo-Christian heritage.”
Netanyahu’s remarks were a delayed response to Erdoğan’s powerful 2020 parliamentary speech, where he had declared:
“Jerusalem is our city — our first qibla, home to al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock. It is also sacred to Christianity and Judaism. Yet Palestinian lands and the rights of their people, the true inhabitants of Jerusalem for thousands of years, are under occupation. This demands our close attention.”
Though five years had passed since Erdoğan’s speech, Netanyahu seized the moment to answer, in front of an American official, while his army wages genocide in Gaza and as Arab and Islamic leaders convened in Doha to condemn Israeli aggression.
Why Does the Inscription Matter?
Israel, a settler state planted on the edge of history with colonial backing, seeks to manufacture legitimacy by clinging to relics. The Siloam Inscription is considered by Zionist narratives as one of three key artefacts that supposedly root Jewish history in Jerusalem.
Discovered in 1880 during Ottoman rule, it describes the digging of a tunnel to channel water from the Siloam spring into Jerusalem during an Assyrian siege. The Hebrew inscription was transferred to the Imperial Museum in Istanbul, where it remains preserved. Multiple forgeries circulate, but the original is still in Turkey.
For Israel, the inscription is not about archaeology but about advancing its ideological project — using history to justify the theft of Palestine and to erase centuries of Islamic and Arab presence.
Reasons Behind Netanyahu’s Escalation
Netanyahu’s decision to escalate at this particular time, with Rubio present in occupied Jerusalem, was carefully calculated. His aims appear to be:
- Signalling confrontation with Turkey: Netanyahu views Turkey’s rising defence industry and Erdoğan’s regional leadership as direct threats. Targeting Erdoğan personally recalls his role in blocking the artefact transfer as Istanbul mayor — and now as Turkey’s long-time president.
- Highlighting Erdoğan’s Islamic stance: For Zionist circles, Erdoğan embodies the legacy of Sultan Abdulhamid II, who famously rejected Zionist proposals to sell Palestinian land. Netanyahu sought to portray Erdoğan as a continuous obstacle to the Zionist project.
- Influencing Washington: By provoking Erdoğan publicly, Netanyahu reminded the US of Turkey’s growing influence and close ties with Trump. Netanyahu is unsettled by this, particularly after Trump privately urged him earlier this year to “act rationally” in handling disputes with Ankara.
- Messaging the Islamic Summit in Doha: Netanyahu wanted to declare that Israel is not isolated, but stands backed by the so-called “Judeo-Christian heritage” in alliance with the US. Rubio’s presence was meant to amplify this message.
- Reinforcing the claim of “Jewish Jerusalem”: Netanyahu’s rhetoric was also aimed at Europe and the international community, signalling that there will be no Palestinian state and no compromise on Jerusalem, regardless of growing recognition of Palestine worldwide.
Conclusion
By weaponising the ancient Siloam Inscription, Netanyahu sought to fortify Israel’s campaign to Judaise all of Palestine. Yet in doing so, he inadvertently highlighted Erdoğan’s steadfast stance. From his days as mayor of Istanbul to his presidency, Erdoğan has consistently refused to surrender the artefact, affirming his role as a defender of Jerusalem and the Palestinian cause.
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