Israel Recalls Diplomats From Turkey In Response To Erdoğan’s Accusatory Speech

By Caroline Ameh

Israel has taken the extraordinary step of recalling its diplomats from Turkey in the wake of a vehement speech delivered by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at a large pro-Palestinian rally in Istanbul. The speech, which unfolded on a Saturday, was marked by scathing criticism of Western governments and Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip.

Erdoğan, though not explicitly naming Israel, laid grave accusations, asserting that Western governments were primarily responsible for the “massacre” transpiring in the besieged Gaza Strip. He unequivocally accused Israel of “committing a war crime” and condemned Western politicians for “legitimizing” the actions taken against the Palestinian coastal enclave.

In swift response to Erdoğan’s impassioned rhetoric, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen conveyed Israel’s decision to recall its diplomatic representatives from Turkey. He announced this move via the X platform (formerly Twitter), stating, “Given the grave statements emanating from Turkey, I have ordered the return of our diplomatic representatives to conduct a thorough reassessment of Israel’s relationship with Turkey.”

Notably, it has come to light through broadcaster NTV that the Israeli ambassador to Ankara, Irit Lillian, and other embassy staff had actually departed from Turkey over a week prior to Cohen’s announcement, indicating a pre-emptive move in anticipation of further escalating tensions.

Erdoğan’s recent statements have only exacerbated the already strained relationship between Israel and Turkey. He proclaimed, “Everyone knows that Israel is merely a pawn in the region and will be sacrificed when the time is right.” He went on to claim that Israel is but a pawn in the regional chessboard and predicted its eventual sacrifice.

The stark change in Erdoğan’s tone towards Israel is readily apparent, marked by his decision to cancel plans for an official visit to Israel and his characterization of Hamas militants as “freedom fighters” rather than terrorists.

This dramatic shift stands in stark contrast to the firm support that Western countries, including the United States and the European Union, have extended to Israel in the aftermath of a major attack by Hamas in southern Israel on October 7. This attack resulted in the loss of over 1,400 lives, the majority of whom were civilians, and the capture of more than 220 individuals, comprising both civilians and military personnel.

Even before this incident, Hamas had been designated as a terrorist organization by the international community. Yet, Erdoğan’s criticism of Israel’s response mirrors the sentiments expressed in certain segments of the Arab and Muslim world, where Israel’s military actions have been widely denounced. According to Gaza’s Hamas-controlled Health Ministry, these actions have resulted in the death of more than 6,500 individuals.

Israel, for its part, has reiterated its commitment to eliminating Hamas and has been amassing its forces along the Gaza border, prompting concerns of a potential ground invasion. The Israeli military contends that its efforts to avoid civilian casualties are hindered by Hamas’s strategy of blending its forces with the civilian population.

This latest episode in Israel-Turkey relations adds another layer to the ongoing tumultuous history between the two nations during Erdoğan’s nearly two-decade-long tenure as the dominant political figure in Turkey.

It is also important to note that there had been some recent efforts to restore diplomatic ties, including the visit of Israel’s President Isaac Herzog to Ankara last year, marking the first visit by an Israeli head of state since 2008. Additionally, Israeli and Turkish defense ministers held discussions, pledging to resume collaborative efforts.

The recall of Israeli diplomats underscores the fragility of diplomatic relations between Israel and Turkey. The broader implications for regional geopolitics remain uncertain, and the international community will be closely monitoring developments in the Middle East.