A weekend of mutual attacks with Turkey: "Zionism is murderous. The propaganda - like Goebbels"
Erdogan said that Israel is "addicted to war" and is trying to destabilize the region. The Foreign Ministry was quick to respond: "He is like the worst antisemites in history." Ankara did not remain in debt: "The international community no longer believes the lies of the Netanyahu government."
Tensions between Israel and Turkey, which reached a peak against the backdrop of events in Syria, continue to escalate. On Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attacked Zionism and the Israeli government, opening two days of public exchanges between the sides.
"The current government in Israel, addicted to war, is trying every kind of provocation to destabilize the region," Erdogan said in his remarks. He added that the "extremist, occupying, and murderous ideology called Zionism" is directed not only against Israel's neighbors but also against those who defend regional peace and humanitarian values. He further claimed that the "genocide network has turned Gaza into the world's largest cemetery for children," noting that even kites are perceived as a threat.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry responded with a sharp personal attack against Erdogan. The statement claimed that the Turkish president acts "like the worst antisemites in history," reaching new heights of incitement against Israel to divert attention from his actions in Turkey and his regional policies. The Ministry accused Erdogan of destroying Turkish democracy, imprisoning political rivals, hosting and supporting Hamas, and leading invasions into neighboring countries.
In response, Erdogan's spokesman, Burhanettin Duran, said that instead of dealing with reality, Israel turns to slander and propaganda. According to him, the country is hiding behind claims of antisemitism "in order to blur its aggression, genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity." He added that Erdogan will continue to defend the struggle of the Palestinian people and support regional stability.
Overnight between Saturday and Sunday, the Foreign Ministry in Ankara published a statement condemning Israel, asserting that "the lies and slander against Erdogan reflect the cowardly and corrupt mentality of the criminals in the Israeli government, led by Netanyahu." The Turkish Foreign Ministry compared Israel's propaganda efforts to those of Nazi Germany:
"The efforts of the Israeli institutions, which operate similarly to Goebbels' propaganda machine, are no longer sufficient, and the international community no longer believes the lies of the Netanyahu government."
