Türkiye, Israel, and the Palestinian Question

A former senior Turkish adviser and newspaper editor argues that Türkiye has never denied Israel’s right to exist, but has consistently criticized Israeli policies because of its long-standing support for Palestinians and concern for peace in the Middle East.

According to the article, Türkiye sees itself as standing with ordinary Palestinians—especially children, women, and civilians—who it believes have suffered for decades under occupation, conflict, and poor living conditions. The author says Türkiye’s criticism of Israel has grown stronger in recent years because of opposition to the policies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel’s right-wing government.

The piece traces the conflict back to the First Intifada in 1987 and argues that hopes for peace faded after the Palestinian Authority lost public trust and later unrest deepened divisions. It also claims Israeli settlement expansion and military actions have worsened the conflict over time.

The author strongly criticizes Israel’s war in Gaza following the 2023 Hamas attack, saying the scale of destruction shifted global opinion against Israel and intensified Türkiye’s public opposition.

He also argues that Israel and the US failed to meet their goals in recent military action against Iran, and claims many now question why Washington became involved.

Finally, the article says President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan wants peace and safety for both Israeli and Palestinian children, but warns that continued hardline policies and regional threats could lead to greater instability. It also raises concerns over Israel’s undeclared nuclear arsenal, arguing that global powers should address that issue alongside concerns about Iran.

Overall, the article presents the view that Türkiye’s position is not anti-Israel itself, but against policies it sees as unjust, dangerous, and harmful to regional peace.

Source: Newstimehub