Erdogan calls for Islamic alliance against Israel

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged Islamic nations on Saturday to unite against "the growing threat of expansionism" from Israel.

His statement followed reports by Palestinian and Turkish officials of Israeli troops killing a Turkish-American woman who was protesting against settlement expansion in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Friday.

"The only step that will stop Israeli arrogance, Israeli banditry, and Israeli state terrorism is the alliance of Islamic countries," Erdogan stated at an Islamic schools' association event near Istanbul.

Erdogan also emphasised that Turkey's recent efforts to strengthen ties with Egypt and Syria were aimed at "building a line of solidarity against the growing threat of expansionism", which he said also posed a threat to Lebanon and Syria.