Breaking News: Turkish officials are facing accusations of antisemitism over increasingly hostile statements directed at Israel.
Turkey’s increasingly virulent rhetoric towards Israel has drawn condemnation, with accusations that it has crossed into outright antisemitism. The escalating war of words follows a deterioration in relations between the two nations, reaching a new peak with comments from Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan who described Israel as “a burden that humanity can no longer bear”.
According to the Jerusalem Post, Fidan further stated Israel represented “humanity’s common problems,” urging international pressure on the Jewish state. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar responded, describing Fidan’s words as “a clear call for genocide”, drawing parallels to historical dehumanisation that preceded the Holocaust. Fox News reports that Sinan Ciddi, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, called Fidan’s statement “some of the vilest rhetoric to come out of any statesman since the Holocaust”.
Despite a condemnation of antisemitism by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in March, reported by the Turkish Minute, other officials have continued to voice criticism. Interior Minister Mustafa Ҁiftҁi stated previously that the world would “witness the liberation of Jerusalem,” (Times of Israel). Earlier rhetoric from Erdoğan, including accusations of Israelis being “murderers” who are “only satisfied by sucking their [victims’] blood,” have also been condemned by the US State Department (Times of Israel, May 2021). A Pew Research poll in June revealed Turkey possesses the highest level of anti-Israel sentiment of any polled country, with 91% holding very unfavourable views.
The US State Department acknowledges Turkey’s importance as a NATO ally and continues engagement, but critics suggest stronger action is required. Ciddi advocates for direct condemnation from the President and the possibility of placing Turkey on a watchlist.
The situation is monitored as the NATO summit concludes, with concerns that Turkey may attempt to deflect attention from its domestic human rights record.
Sources
The Daily Telegraph, The Sun, The Daily Mail, Fox News, The Jerusalem Post.
