Turkey’s Erdogan Calls for Islamic Alliance Against Israel, Reports Reuters

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan stated on Saturday that Islamic nations should unite against what he describes as “the growing threat of expansionism” from Israel, prompting a sharp response from the Israeli foreign minister.

Erdogan’s remarks followed reports of the death of a Turkish-American woman during a protest against Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank. This incident, reportedly involving Israeli troops, has drawn significant attention from both Palestinian and Turkish officials.

During an event for an Islamic schools’ association near Istanbul, Erdogan asserted, “The only step that will stop Israeli arrogance, Israeli banditry, and Israeli state terrorism is the alliance of Islamic countries.” He remarked that Turkey’s recent efforts to improve relations with Egypt and Syria are part of a broader strategy to create a unified front against this perceived threat, which he contended also endangers Lebanon and Syria.

In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz condemned Erdogan’s statement as “a dangerous lie and incitement,” claiming the Turkish leader has been collaborating with Iran to destabilize moderate Arab regimes in the region.

Earlier this week, Erdogan met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Ankara to discuss the ongoing Gaza conflict and explore avenues to mend their long-strained relations, marking the first presidential visit between the two in over a decade. Diplomatic ties have been warming since 2020, as Turkey has taken steps to reconcile with various regional rivals, including the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

In July, Erdogan expressed readiness to invite Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for potential discussions to restore relations, emphasizing the importance of dialogue after the countries severed ties in 2011 amid the Syrian civil war.

Following the tragic incident involving the Turkish-American woman, Israel’s military stated it was investigating reports that a foreign national had been killed by gunfire in the area, and the details surrounding the event are currently under review. There has been no immediate comment from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office regarding the incident.