Turkey rejects Netanyahu’s criticism of Erdogan over Cyprus and Syria

Ankara, Turkey. Turkey’s presidential communications directorate has rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s criticism of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s policies in Cyprus and Syria, describing it as a groundless statement lacking historical facts and political seriousness.

Turkey’s response

The directorate said Netanyahu’s remarks were a cheap political manoeuvre intended to secure an electoral advantage ahead of Israel’s legislative elections in October.

It said the comments would have no influence in Israel, the region, the international community or Turkey.

The directorate added that the statements came from a government facing calls for accountability before international justice mechanisms on genocide charges. It said the remarks demonstrated how Turkey’s position and Erdogan’s stance were unsettling to certain parties.

Election campaign concerns

Turkey said Israel’s election campaign had increasingly been marked by irresponsible security-focused populism and harsher threat-based politics.

It said the Netanyahu administration’s efforts to portray Turkey as a threat formed part of this approach, warning that policies of threats and escalating tensions for domestic political purposes posed risks to Israeli society as well as regional and global peace and stability.

Turkey said it would continue to stand with the oppressed, defend peace, justice and stability in the region.

Netanyahu’s statement

The response followed a statement issued by Netanyahu’s office on Friday night, which described Erdogan as an antisemitic dictator and accused him of massacring Kurds, harbouring Hamas members, occupying half of Cyprus and imprisoning journalists and politicians.

Netanyahu’s office also said Erdogan was seeking to extend aggression against Israel into Syria and that Israel would not tolerate this. It added that attempts to intimidate Israeli leaders and soldiers would fail.