Escalating Anti-Semitic Rhetoric from Turkish Leaders

While tensions around Iran, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and NATO’s defense budgets were crucial topics at the recent Ankara summit, something that hasn’t received much coverage is the growing anti-Semitic discourse from Turkish officials.

As diplomatic relations between Türkiye and Israel plummet, a verbal standoff has begun between the two nations.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan expressed in an interview on July 2 that Israel “has become a burden that humanity can no longer bear.” Furthermore, he described it as a “common problem for humanity,” urging other nations to apply pressure on Israel.

Israeli officials have reacted strongly. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar stated that Fidan’s comments could be construed as “a clear call to genocide,” warning that ignoring such rhetoric is dangerous. He noted that dehumanization is often the first step toward violence.

There seems to be a historical echo in Fidan’s words, drawing unsettling parallels to language used about a century ago—talking about a certain group as a “problem of humanity” raises serious concerns.

Sinan Sidi, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, described Fidan’s remarks as “some of the most vile rhetoric ever uttered by a politician since the Holocaust.”

Notably, while President Erdogan has condemned anti-Semitism, his administration’s latest actions and comments often contradict that stance. For instance, Erdogan has called for the liberation of Jerusalem, reflecting a continuation of aggressive rhetoric towards Israel.

In past statements, Erdogan has labeled Israelis as “murderers,” and similar sentiments have persisted, fostering widespread negative sentiment towards Israel within Türkiye. A recent survey indicated that 91% of Turks hold a very unfavorable view of Israel.

Despite these issues, a spokesperson for the State Department responded to inquiries about Turkey’s comments, expressing that Türkiye remains a valued NATO ally, suggesting a commitment to maintaining strong ties despite the current climate.

Sidi mentioned that there are numerous avenues for diplomatic reprimand against Turkey regarding its unchecked rhetoric. He pointed out that the president might consider distancing from Turkey or demanding accountability for such statements.

As the NATO summit wrapped up, Sidi expressed concerns that Turkey may attempt to overshadow deeper issues while bolstering its image as an essential NATO ally. “We can’t uphold the democratic values we share with our allies if we don’t call out member states like Turkey for their harmful rhetoric and actions,” he added.

The Turkish embassy in Washington, D.C., has yet to respond to requests for comments on these issues.