ISTANBUL: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Benjamin Netanyahu of “following the path of Hitler” on Thursday after the Israeli leader alleged he was an “antisemitic dictator” who had committed a “genocide” against the Kurds.
The relationship between Israel and Turkiye has nosedived since the Gaza war started in October 2023, with the pair regularly trading allegations of genocide and public insults.
The latest exchange erupted after Erdogan on Wednesday said Israel´s actions in Lebanon and Syria were a threat to Turkish security.
“Turkiye´s security doesn´t just start in (its southernmost province of) Hatay, it begins in Aleppo, in Damascus and in Beirut,” he said, warning Turkiye “will not tolerate any fait accompli in our neighbouring countries” -- in what was understood to mean Israel creating new irreversible realities on the ground.
Netanyahu hit back, pledging to continue military action wherever needed to deal with the security threat from Iran and its proxies.
“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,” he said in a statement.
“Israel... will continue to take forceful action against Iran and its proxies, which threaten the Middle East and the entire world.”
Erdogan, who has frequently accused Netanyahu´s government of genocide in Gaza with his top diplomat warning it might do the same in Lebanon, replied on Thursday.
