Erdogan Seeks Reconciliation with Israel Following Electoral Defeat

Israeli newspaper Maariv claimed Turkish diplomat stated Erdogan had criticized Israel to satisfy the Turkish public ahead of Sunday's local elections

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wants to improve diplomatic relations with Israel, despite his harsh public rhetoric condemning Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his war on Gaza, the Hebrew-language newspaper Maariv reported on 2 April.

Last week, Erdogan said that "Netanyahu and his administration, with their crimes against humanity in Gaza, are writing their names next to Hitler, Mussolini, and Stalin, like today's Nazis."

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz summoned the deputy ambassador for Turkiye in Israel in response to the remarks.

According to Maariv, the Turkish deputy ambassador justified Erdogan's comments by telling Jacob Blitstein, the director general of the Foreign Ministry, that "Erdogan's harsh rhetoric against Israel stems from Erdogan's political considerations in the local elections in Turkey."

The Turkish public is strongly supportive of the Palestinian cause and angered by Israel's genocide in Gaza.

Erdogan has continued to allow exports of Turkish goods, including some military items, to Israel since the war began. Some Turkish politicians, including from Erdogan's ruling coalition, have called out Erdogan for what they view as his hypocritical stance toward Israel.

The Turkish deputy ambassador said that after the elections, Erdogan wants to start improving relations with Israel, including exchanging ambassadors once again.

On Sunday, Erdogan's AK Party suffered its worst defeat in decades in local elections throughout Turkiye.

🔗Source: The Cradle

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