ANKARA, DEC 08 (DNA) – Turkey calls on Israel not to resort to tough measures against protesters in Jerusalem, the Turkish media cited the country’s Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag as saying Dec. 8.

Bozdag added that the US recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel caused clashes in Jerusalem, as well as in several Palestinian cities.

Mass protests against the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel have started in Jerusalem today.

Thousands of Muslims flooded Jerusalem’s streets after the Friday prayer.

Palestinian activists said that the Israeli police use firearms against protesters. The Israeli authorities have not commented on the statement of the Palestinian side.

Previously, US President Donald Trump proclaimed that the US recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Israel proclaimed Jerusalem its capital after the end of the War of Independence in 1949. In 1967, after the Six Day War, it seized East Jerusalem and united it with the West Jerusalem, but the UN did not recognize this. Embassies of countries that have diplomatic relations with Israel are located mainly in Tel Aviv, Herzliya and Ramat Gan.