The diplomatic tension between Israel and Turkey escalated on Sunday after Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar condemned Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent comments about Israel. Erdogan, during a visit to a mosque marking the end of Ramadan, attacked Israel, calling for its destruction. He declared, "May Allah destroy Zionist Israel for the sake of His holy name. We must see what is happening there, and therefore we must unite and be strong and be brothers here, may Allah always strengthen our unity."
In response, the Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a sharp rebuttal to Sa'ar's criticism, calling the accusations "baseless and disrespectful." The Ministry suggested that such statements were part of a broader Israeli effort to divert attention from what it described as "crimes committed by Netanyahu and his associates."
The Turkish Foreign Ministry further criticized Israeli policies, expressing concern that Israel might accelerate what they referred to as a "genocidal policy" in Gaza. They added, "The propaganda efforts of Israeli officials will never undermine Turkey's unwavering commitment to telling the truth. We will continue to stand by the innocent citizens targeted by Israel and to protect their rights."
Israel Fires Back: Accuses Erdogan of Antisemitism
Not backing down, the Israeli Foreign Ministry responded with a statement questioning Erdogan’s character and intentions. "What prevented the Turkish Foreign Ministry? Here is an opportunity to clarify the dictator's words: publish clearly that Erdogan is not an anti-Semite, that he is not an obsessive hater of the Jewish state," the Israeli Ministry said. They also accused Erdogan of destabilizing countries across the region, pointing to his involvement in conflicts from Cyprus to Syria.
Israel’s statement suggested that Erdogan’s remarks revealed his true intentions toward the Jewish state, calling his rhetoric a clear reflection of his anti-Semitic views.
Erdogan’s Remarks Spark Regional Tensions
Erdogan’s comments came as part of a broader condemnation of Israeli policies in Gaza, which has fueled further tensions between Turkey and Israel. The comments were made after his visit to a mosque marking the conclusion of Ramadan, where he called for the destruction of "Zionist Israel."
In response to Erdogan’s inflammatory statements, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar accused the Turkish president of revealing his "anti-Semitic face" and labeled him a threat to regional stability. Sa'ar called on NATO members to recognize the danger posed by Erdogan’s rhetoric. "The dictator Erdogan has revealed his anti-Semitic face. Erdogan is dangerous to the region, as well as to his own people," Sa'ar said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Jerusalem, amid rising tensions with Turkey. Netanyahu emphasized the historical ties between Israel and Greece, highlighting their common values and strategic interests. "Two blue-and-white flags meet here," Netanyahu said, "two ancient peoples whose roots of free civilization began in Athens and Jerusalem."
The meeting, which included discussions on security and economic cooperation, underscored the strengthening of relations between Israel and Greece. This strategic partnership is seen as a challenge to Turkish interests, especially in the Eastern Mediterranean, where energy issues, maritime borders, and regional power dynamics are key concerns.
Growing Alliance Between Israel and Greece
The increasingly close ties between Israel and Greece, particularly in the areas of security and economic cooperation, have raised concerns in Ankara. From a Turkish perspective, the growing strategic alliance between Israel and Greece could pose a threat to its regional influence, especially given the ongoing tensions between Turkey and Greece over maritime borders and energy exploration in the Mediterranean.
Turkey’s response to the strengthening of Israel-Greece relations suggests that Erdogan views this alliance as a challenge to his country’s dominance in the region. Turkish officials have expressed concern that the cooperation between Israel and Greece could undermine Turkey’s ability to assert its interests in the Eastern Mediterranean, an area where energy exploration and maritime boundaries are increasingly contested.
As tensions continue to rise, the diplomatic exchange between Israel and Turkey reflects the deepening rifts between the two nations and the broader regional implications of their actions.
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