Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that his government views Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's anti-Israel rhetoric with utmost seriousness and plans to bring the matter to the attention of the United States. Speaking during a cabinet session on Sunday, Netanyahu highlighted the frequency of threats emanating from Ankara, asserting that Israel cannot afford to dismiss such explicit hostility.
Netanyahu's Statement on Erdogan's Rhetoric
According to a report by The Times of Israel, Netanyahu told his cabinet, "Hardly a day goes by without Erdogan calling for the destruction of the State of Israel. We take those words very seriously, because if there is one thing we have learned from the history of our people, it is that when someone says they intend to destroy you, you should take them seriously." He further noted that Israel would engage Washington on the issue, saying, "We will also draw the attention of our American friends to these remarks. We are not ignoring them."
Background of Israel-Turkey Tensions
The latest friction comes amid a sharp escalation in tensions between Israel and Turkey since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict, triggered by the Hamas-led assault on October 7, 2023. Erdogan has positioned himself as one of Israel's fiercest detractors on the global stage, routinely levelling accusations of genocide in Gaza and supporting international legal proceedings targeting Israeli leadership. Turkish officials have recently intensified their rhetoric, including public calls to "liberate" Jerusalem, placing immense strain on the already fragile bilateral relationship.
Diplomatic Counter-Strike: Armenian Genocide Recognition
The escalating diplomatic dispute was further underscored on Sunday when the Israeli cabinet unanimously backed a resolution to recognize the mass killings of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire during World War I as genocide. This move is widely perceived as a deliberate diplomatic counter-strike against Ankara. Historically, previous Israeli administrations avoided formal recognition to protect strategic ties with Turkey. Ankara vehemently opposes the genocide classification, arguing that casualties occurred within the broader context of wartime losses rather than systematic extermination.
Impact on Bilateral Relations
Bilateral relations between Israel and Turkey, once close regional allies, have severely deteriorated since the Gaza hostilities began. Ankara has frozen most commercial trade with Tel Aviv and openly aligned itself as a diplomatic backer of Hamas. Conversely, Israel has repeatedly criticized Erdogan for maintaining a hostile posture and using inflammatory rhetoric. The formal designation of the Armenian genocide remains a highly sensitive geopolitical fault line, and this latest action by Israel is expected to further strain ties.
