Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan intensified his criticism of Israel on Friday, accusing Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu and his governing coalition of deliberately creating foreign crises to serve domestic political interests. He also claimed Israel’s policies pose a growing danger to regional and international security.

Speaking during an appearance on The National’s “On the Record with Hadley Gamble,” Fidan declared, “The policies of Netanyahu’s government are not only a problem for us. His policies and his government are a burden for Israel, a burden for the region, and a burden and threat for international security.”

Asked whether the increasingly hostile rhetoric between Turkey and Israel could ultimately lead to direct military conflict, Fidan downplayed that possibility.

“There is no reason to have an open conflict,” Fidan clarified.

The Turkish foreign minister also argued that although European governments are becoming more aware of what he described as the strategic challenges posed by Israel, they have yet to take meaningful action. He warned that continued interference with Syria’s political development could further destabilize the region.

“We are not sure if Israel wants to see a stable, good, powerful, evolving, developed Syria,” he remarked.

When pressed on whether he believes Israel is actively working to weaken Syria’s new leadership in Damascus, Fidan answered affirmatively.

“When you look at the past and current patterns of the Israeli government towards the regional countries, yes.”

The remarks were Fidan’s second major verbal attack on Israel in recent weeks. In an interview with CNN Türk last week, he asserted that Israel’s current political approach and governing philosophy had “become a burden that humanity can no longer bear.”

He also described Israel as one of “humanity’s common problems” and urged the international community to unite in applying pressure against the Jewish state.

Fidan further suggested that Turkey would not shy away from military confrontation if necessary, stating, “We have no problem with confrontation. If it comes to that, it is not an issue for us.”

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar sharply condemned those remarks, saying, “Turkish FM Hakan Fidan’s sickening words are textbook incitement to genocide.”

“Dehumanizing the Jewish people as an ‘unbearable burden’ is the classic, horrific language of history’s worst eliminationist regimes,” the foreign minister added.

Germany also criticized Fidan’s rhetoric. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul responded by affirming Israel’s security concerns, stating, “Israel faces an ongoing threat from the region and has the right and duty to protect its population.”

Fidan’s latest statements are part of an ongoing series of increasingly hostile comments by senior Turkish officials. Last month, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned of possible action against Israel, claiming Israeli military operations in Syria and Lebanon had reached the point where they also threatened Turkey.

Just days before those remarks, Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi declared that Turkey would one day regain control of Yerushalayim.

Relations between Turkey and Israel had been moving toward normalization shortly before Hamas launched its October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Since then, however, Turkish leaders—led by Erdogan—have repeatedly denounced Israel and its military campaign.

In March of last year, Erdogan condemned Israel following its strikes on terrorist targets in Gaza, calling the country a “terror state.”

Several months later, Erdogan claimed Netanyahu’s government represented the greatest threat to stability in the Middle East.

In April, prosecutors in Istanbul filed a sweeping indictment against 35 senior Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, over the Israeli navy’s interception of the “Sumud” flotilla that attempted to reach Gaza in October of last year.

{Matzav.com}