Netanyahu, Erdogan trade genocide barbs

Netanyahu and Erdogan trade genocide barbs — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan receives Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) at the Turkish House in New York, United States on September 19, 2023. Photo: Gov.il

ISTANBUL,— Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of “following the path of Hitler,” escalating a public dispute between the two leaders after Netanyahu described Erdogan as an “antisemitic dictator” and accused him of committing “genocide” against the Kurds.

Relations between Turkey and Israel have deteriorated sharply since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023.

Since then, both governments have repeatedly exchanged accusations of genocide and traded public criticism.

The latest confrontation followed comments made by Erdogan on Wednesday regarding Israel’s activities in Lebanon and Syria.

He said developments in those countries posed a risk to Turkey’s security and emphasized that Ankara viewed regional events beyond its borders as directly linked to its national interests.

“Turkey’s security doesn’t just start in (its southernmost province of) Hatay, it begins in Aleppo, in Damascus and in Beirut,” Erdogan said.

He also warned that Turkey would not accept any “fait accompli” in neighboring states, remarks widely understood as referring to concerns about Israel creating permanent conditions on the ground.

Netanyahu responded by reaffirming Israel’s determination to conduct military operations where necessary against threats posed by Iran and groups aligned with it.

“The antisemitic dictator Erdogan, who commits genocide against the Kurds, supports the Hamas terrorist organisation, oppresses his own people and imprisons political rivals, is the last person who can lecture Israel on morality,” Netanyahu said in a statement.

He added that Israel would continue taking strong action against Iran and its proxies, which he said threatened both the Middle East and the wider world.

Erdogan answered those remarks on Thursday, repeating his criticism of Israel’s leadership and drawing a comparison with historical dictators.

“Those who follow Hitler’s path should not forget their fate will be like that of other tyrants in history,” he said.

Erdogan also said Israel, under its current government, had become a source of instability and pledged that those responsible for what he described as massacres would face accountability.

Israel has carried out bombardments in southern Lebanon since Hezbollah began launching missiles toward northern Israel on March 2, bringing Lebanon into the broader Middle East conflict.

Although an April ceasefire temporarily reduced hostilities, fighting has continued while negotiations in Washington aimed at ending the violence remain underway.

Israel has also conducted hundreds of strikes in Syria and maintained regular incursions into the country’s south, where it is seeking a demilitarized zone.

Turkey has meanwhile been working to resolve its long-running conflict with the Kurdish militant PKK.

The PKK began its armed campaign against the Turkish state in 1984, seeking greater autonomy in Turkish Kurdistan for the Kurdish minority, which accounted for nearly 30% of Turkey’s population of 85 million.

Turkey says the conflict has resulted in more than 40,000 deaths among Turkish soldiers and Kurdish guerrillas.

The PKK last year declared an end to its armed campaign against Ankara.

(With files from AFP | Agencies)