I propose the following solution:
Trade the Haggia Sofia for the Dome of the Rock. Let Israel reclaim their synagogue and the Islamist’s can do whatever they want with the church/mosque in Turkey.
I know - not really apples for apples. If it is a UNESCO World Heritage site, there should be some serious consequences for making it a Mosque.
I’ve been there. Beautiful place where you can see Christian paintings on the walls, though some were covered . I think they need to leave it as a museum. It’s one of their greatest tourist attractions.
I spent a week in Turkey in 1993 over Christmas vacation when both my kids were overseas. . More Christmas decorations up than in my stupid liberal town in WA. The Turks were really happy to see Americans, though they thought I was German because I was blonde. Many Turks went to Germany as “Guest Workers.” My German friend liked them. I did too.
Erdogan is an Islamist....an idiot wrecking the country by bringing in stupid veil-wearing Muslims from the countryside. In Istanbul, I rarely saw a burka. Pretty women, Western clothes.
Christian civilization? Saying stuff like that will get him arrested in California and several other states.
And besides, where is this Christian civilization of which he speaks?
Whenever my liberal (Orthodox) dad talks about returning the sacred land of Mount Rushmore to the Indians, I ask him if he has the same conviction and righteous anger about returning Hagia Sophia to the Church.