Erdogan Advocates for Stronger Islamic Alliance to Counter Israeli 'Expansionism'

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered a powerful speech at an Islamic schools' association event near Istanbul on Saturday, in which he once again criticized Israel. His comments were particularly poignant as they came a day after a Turkish-American woman was shot during a protest by Israeli troops in the West Bank.

Erdogan's Call for an Islamic Uprising

Erdogan essentially called for an Islamic uprising against the Jewish state. He suggested that a Muslim alliance of countries and populations is necessary to counter what he termed as "the growing threat of expansionism" from Israel. "The only step that will stop Israeli arrogance, Israeli banditry, and Israeli state terrorism is the alliance of Islamic countries," Erdogan stated.

Strengthening Ties to Counter Israeli 'Expansionism'

Erdogan also made a rare positive reference to Assad of Syria. He explained that Turkey's recent efforts to strengthen relations with Egypt and Syria are fundamentally aimed at "forming a line of solidarity against the growing threat of expansionism." This move could potentially bring NATO's second largest military into an indirect alliance with Iran. However, the improvement of Turkish ties with the Syrian state is also largely influenced by the desire to limit the influence of the Kurds in northern Syria. Both Ankara and Damascus are eager to see US troops, who are supporting local Kurdish militias, removed from the region.

Focus on the Gaza Crisis

This week, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with Erdogan in Turkey. Their discussions were largely centered on the Gaza crisis. Tensions between Egypt and Israel have been escalating, with accusations from Tel Aviv that Egyptian border troops have been ignoring smuggling and underground tunnels.

Erdogan's Increasing Threats Against Israel

Erdogan's threats against Israel have been escalating recently, causing a deterioration in Turkey's relations with Israel, and resulting in trade embargos on a list of export items. In late July, Erdogan had threatened that Turkey could intervene militarily in Gaza to protect Palestinians against the Israelis. "We need to be very strong so that Israel cannot do these ridiculous things to Palestine. Just as we entered Karabakh, just as we entered Libya, we can do something similar to them," Erdogan had stated in a speech to his ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party. However, following the recent killing of Turkish citizen (and American dual national) Aysenur Ezgi Eygi in the West Bank, such rhetoric from Turkish leaders is likely to escalate further.

Bottom Line

Erdogan's call for a stronger Islamic alliance to combat Israeli 'expansionism' is a significant development in the geopolitics of the region. It raises questions about the potential implications for regional stability and international relations. What are your thoughts on this issue? Do you think Erdogan's approach will lead to a more peaceful resolution or further escalate tensions? Share this article with your friends and let's get the conversation started. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is available every day at 6pm.