While watching President Tayyip Erdoğan’s speech at the opening ceremony of the new legislative year of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM), I was confused. At one point, I even said, “What?!” Repeating the familiar phrases we’ve become used to hearing in the now-functionally irrelevant TBMM, where its purpose is no longer clear after the introduction of the presidential system, Erdoğan claimed that Israel’s next target, after Lebanon, would be Turkey.
His words were exactly as follows: “The Israeli administration, driven by the delusion of ‘Promised Lands,’ acting with complete religious fanaticism, will eventually set its sights on our homeland, after Palestine and Lebanon. The Netanyahu government harbors a pipe dream that includes Anatolia as well.”
Yes, that’s exactly what he said…
Political Islamists have long profited from the stories of ‘Greater Israel,’ but hearing it from Erdoğan at the TBMM rostrum was a bit strange. In fact, this same claim was also voiced the day before by TBMM Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş. So, the idea that Israel will invade Turkey was not a spontaneous comment. It appears to be a thought-out policy.
But why was I confused?
The expression “confused” is, of course, ironic. Because it wouldn’t be appropriate to use the right term for what we’re seeing here. Here’s the thing: on July 28, speaking at the AKP Rize Provincial Directorate, President Erdoğan said, “Just as we entered Karabakh, just as we entered Libya, we would do the same to them (referring to Israel). There’s nothing stopping us from doing it.”
In other words, just two months ago, Erdoğan was talking about ‘conquering’ Israel. Now, he’s talking about Israel invading Turkey. Never mind military capacities and strategies; it’s impossible to understand such a foreign policy rhetoric.
He’s really in a tight spot! The same thing happened with Greece.
At every opportunity, Erdoğan threatened Greece, saying, “We could come suddenly one night!” Although later he backpedaled, saying, “I said that about terrorist elements threatening our national security,” it didn’t matter.
While the AKP base was dreaming of launching a surprise invasion of Greece, Greek coast guard boats started cruising along Turkey’s shores. Forget about border violations; they almost came ashore to take selfies!
Okay, we’re not saying, “Shoot soldiers who violate the borders,” but shouldn’t we be pointing out this contradiction?
Such a wild swing is rare.
In a country without a free press and opposition, no one asks, “Just a couple of months ago, you were planning to invade Israel, and now you’re spreading fear that they will invade us. What kind of foreign policy is this?”
So, why did Erdoğan make a statement that almost seems like a call for Netanyahu to come to his aid?
The answer is simple, really. Erdoğan is in a very tight spot. Don’t be fooled by his tough talk. He’s not at the table on the Palestinian issue. There are significant developments in the region, but no one is taking Erdoğan or Turkey seriously.
The domestic situation isn’t great either. They can’t fix the economy. The AKP’s erosion continues, despite CHP leader Özgür Özel’s desperate support. Erdoğan needs an enemy, and he’s aiming to consolidate the ranks with the “foreign powers” narrative.
Erdoğan’s family is still doing business with Israel. Of course, he knows Israel isn’t going to invade Turkey. But even the rhetoric works with the AKP base. Meanwhile, although no one in Turkey talks about it, let me say it as it’s being reflected in the U.S.: despite all contrary rhetoric, Erdoğan and the AKP’s relations with Israel are ongoing at full speed, especially in military and intelligence areas.
The business side is well known. Erdoğan’s son, his brother, and prominent AKP figures have ships operating non-stop. His son-in-law Selçuk Bayraktar’s company even organizes joint fairs with Israel. While Israeli planes were bombing Gaza, the fuel for those planes was coming through Turkey.
The list of close cooperation between AKP and Israel can go on. As always, Erdoğan is doing business and making money on one hand, while on the other, using anti-Israel rhetoric to, as Bülent Arınç put it, fool the electorate.
Rest assured, if Israel were to make a move against Turkey, or if Netanyahu were to make a statement targeting Erdoğan, the happiest people would be AKP supporters. In short, we’re once again witnessing another version of the duplicitous policy that has been seen for years in Turkish politics.
The two-faced policy has been exposed! Speaking of double standards, we can’t ignore the astonishing exchange between Devlet Bahçeli and Özgür Özel in the TBMM yesterday. We’re used to politicians sparring, but what we heard yesterday was something else entirely. Even the most experienced political commentators found themselves saying, “You’ve got to be kidding!”
For the sake of those who didn’t see it and to leave a note for history, let’s summarize…
The elderly and angry leader of the MHP, Devlet Bahçeli, threatened everyone during his group speech yesterday from the TBMM rostrum. Okay, Bahçeli was never a smiley guy, but the MHP’s connection to the assassination of former Ülkü Ocakları president Sinan Ateş by drug dealers in the heart of Ankara has really rattled him.
Both his health and his temper have suffered.
He openly targeted anyone in his path. Speaking to his party group in the newly opened TBMM, Bahçeli tore into them. He explicitly threatened the main opposition party CHP and Halk TV. To Özgür Özel, he said, “Your allegations are as rotten as you are.”
Barely able to stand physically, which is why his party group meetings are held only every few weeks, Devlet Bahçeli declared, “I won’t let MHP be trampled on, we won’t allow owls to hoot at our doorstep, and we’ll pluck the wings of vultures!”
Regarding the late Sinan Ateş’s mother, he said, “For a lady to speak out like that at her age is unbecoming.” He then continued, saying, “CHP and Halk TV, mind your steps!” and threatened journalists.
And what should we say to the MHP members who applauded Bahçeli’s threats standing up, just to kiss up?
Normalizing the regime! When the coalition partner MHP makes such a speech, naturally all eyes turn to the reactions and statements of CHP leader Özgür Özel. But Özel, as if nothing happened, went over to Bahçeli with a grin that even annoyed his own supporters and congratulated him. He was already acting as Erdoğan’s spare tire for a while, but now, with this move, we’ve seen him vie for Bahçeli’s spare tire position!
As for Bahçeli, despite just having hurled heavy insults at him, he shook hands with the CHP leader and gave ‘reconciliation’ messages to the press.
During the TBMM reception, Özel and Bahçeli exchanged warm words, chatting arm-in-arm. According to Bahçeli, his words were just part of the political game, while Özel claimed there was no need to “exaggerate.” In other words, the two party leaders essentially said, “Don’t mind what we say to each other! These are just politically motivated words; we’re not that different.”
We already knew that Özgür Özel was not quite suited for his seat, but his gleeful behavior in the face of insults and threats against journalists was too much, even for the most fanatical CHP supporters.
In short, they’ve said, “We will take the rostrum and divide the country for our political interests!” Meanwhile, they’re normalizing the regime that spews hatred. And that’s the real danger: they’re normalizing and desensitizing us to this hate-filled regime.
