Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sharply criticized Israel on Friday, condemning its recently approved Death Penalty for Terrorists Bill and escalating his rhetoric against the Jewish state.
Speaking through remarks cited by Anadolu, Erdogan argued that the legislation is “essentially no different from Hitler’s policies against Jews,” drawing a comparison that has intensified already strained tensions.
He went on to accuse Israel of discriminatory practices, stating, “What is being done is discrimination, it is racism, it means implementing in Israel a worse version of the apartheid regime that was overthrown in South Africa in 1994,” the Turkish President charged.
Erdogan further claimed that applying capital punishment specifically to Palestinian Arabs reflects systemic injustice, asserting that it constitutes “apartheid’ and turns law into an “instrument of racist fascism.”
In recent years, Erdogan has emerged as one of Israel’s most outspoken critics and has openly expressed support for the Hamas terrorist organization, despite a brief period in which Ankara and Jerusalem appeared close to restoring ties prior to the October 7, 2023 Hamas assault.
His criticism of Israel has been consistent, including remarks last March when he denounced the country as a “terror state” following Israeli strikes on terror targets in Gaza.
Later in the year, Erdogan escalated his accusations, contending that the government led by Bibi Netanyahu poses the greatest threat to stability in the Middle East.
In April 2024, Erdogan hosted then-Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Istanbul. Haniyeh was later eliminated by Israel.
Following that meeting, Erdogan stressed the importance of unity among Palestinian Arabs, saying it was “vital” and adding, “The strongest response to Israel and the path to victory lie in unity and integrity.”
In the weeks that followed, Erdogan highlighted that more than 1,000 Hamas members were receiving medical care in Turkish hospitals and also criticized Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis for referring to Hamas as a terrorist organization.
{Matzav.com}