Ankara hits out at Israeli Premier Netanyahu for trying to 'lecture' Erdoğan

A Turkish presidential aide on Tuesday slammed the Israeli premier for trying to 'lecture' President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on human rights when he criticized Israel's controversial new "Jewish nation-state" law.

"The prime minister of a Zionist apartheid state, built on racism, occupation and displacement, is in no position to lecture our president on human rights," İbrahim Kalın wrote on his official Twitter account.

Last week, the Knesset approved the law, which describes Israel as "the nation-state of the Jewish people".

The legislation further states that a "united Jerusalem" is the capital of Israel and that Hebrew is the country's official language, stripping Arabic of its earlier designation as an official language, while recognizing its "special status".

"Turkey's criticism against the Nation State Law, a shameless attempt to institutionalize discrimination against the Palestinian people, is a universal call for justice and peace. Mr. Netanyahu may not know the meaning of these words but the world is aware of what is happening," Kalın added.

While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the legislation, calling its passage as a "defining moment for Zionism and Israel", Turkey's Erdoğan criticized it, saying, "This law is evidence that, without doubt, Israel is the most Zionist, fascist, and racist state in the world."