ANKARA, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Israel's decision to remove metal detectors from Al-Aqsa Mosque is "a step in the right direction, but it is not enough," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday.
Speaking at the presidential complex in Ankara, Erdogan said that Israel is attempting to damage the Islamic character of Jerusalem with new practices every day by taking advantage of the current weakness of Muslims.
Israel should avoid policies that put the region in "a chamber of fire" and stop threatening others if it wants to "live in peace in this world," he was quoted by state-run Anadolu Agency as saying.
The Turkish president urged Israel to respect human rights and Jerusalem conventions.
Later on Monday, Israel's security cabinet decided to remove the metal detectors amid a row over an escalation in the Al-Aqsa mosque.
A statement said the devices will be replaced with "advanced technology," believed to be high resolution cameras.
Meanwhile, Turkey's Foreign Ministry strongly criticized Israeli Foreign Ministry's recent statement over President Erdogan's remarks on Al-Aqsa Mosque, described it "presumptuous."
In a written statement released on Wednesday, Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Huseyin Muftuoglu called on Israel to return to the status quo at Al-Aqsa "immediately" and completely lift all the restrictions on the freedom of worship.
On Tuesday, Israel dismissed Erdogan's remarks after he accused the country of taking away holy sites in Jerusalem from Muslims.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry called Erdogan's comments "delusional, baseless and distorted."
