In a series of impassioned speeches, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s expansionist policies, stating that Turkey stands firmly with the Lebanese people against Israel’s invasion plans. Erdogan warned of a ‘major catastrophe’ if the conflict in Gaza spreads to Lebanon. He also criticized Western countries for their covert support of Israel and called on regional countries to support Beirut amid the growing tensions. Erdogan’s remarks were made during his party’s parliamentary group meeting, where he also touched upon the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, stating that ‘Israel is continuing to kill Palestinians and bomb civilians’ and emphasizing that Turkey will not remain silent in the face of such aggression. Erdogan also expressed condolences for the victims of wildfires in Diyarbakır and Mardin and criticized attempts by the opposition to politicize these tragedies. Furthermore, Erdogan’s foreign policy discussions with Islamic country leaders, including recent visits to Spain and Italy, have focused on advocating for recognition of the Palestinian state, as evidenced by Armenia’s recognition under Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s leadership. Erdogan’s statements reflect his broader foreign policy approach, which seeks to support Palestine and Lebanon while condemning the actions of Israel and the perceived hypocrisy of Western powers.
Key points
- Turkish President Erdogan criticizes Israel’s expansionist policies and stands with Lebanon against invasion plans.
- Erdogan warns of a ‘major catastrophe’ if the Gaza conflict spreads to Lebanon and condemns Western support for Israel.
- Turkey’s foreign policy includes advocating for the Palestinian state and condemning the actions of Israel.
