The Arab Democrat The Latest From The Arab World
Related Articles
On Thursday, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan launched his most harsh attack on Israel yet regarding the Israeli air campaign in Gaza, and accusing Israel of looking for a “systematic genocide” of Palestinians.
Erdogan, a pious Mulsim who considers himself as a champion of the Palestinian cause, said that the last few days managed to intensify his rhetoric against Israel, as he prepares to present himself as the leader of the Islamic world ahead of elections to be held in Turkey on August 10th.
In his latest attack on Israel, Erdogan went further in comments which could endanger attempts to normalize a troubled relationship between Turkey and Israel.
“This is not the first time we have been confronted by such situations.Since (the creation of the state of Israel) in 1948 we have been witnessing this attempt at systematic genocide every day and every month.But above all we are witnessing this attempt at systematic genocide every Ramadan”, Erdogan said at a meeting of Islamic scholars held in Istanbul to mark the holy month of Ramzan.
So far, 237 Palestinians and one Israeli have fallen prey to the crossfire between Israel and Hamas.
“The Western world remains silent, so does the Islamic world. Because those who lost their lives are Palestinian, you can’t hear their voices”, Erdogan said.
He also renewed his fervent criticism of the UN, which he accuses of both being useless and having a hidden agenda.
“What is the U.N. doing? Why has it been founded? For world peace? Does it contribute to the world peace? No. They are serving whatever their secret agenda is”.
Erdogan accused several other Islamic nations of being indifferent to Palestinian lives, possibly referring to Sunni Gulf Arab States Turkey has complicated ties with.
“I am asking the Islamic world? Isn’t your heart shattered? Forget about the West, If your family does not embrace you, would others do that?” he said.
