Sometimes, in America, it can be difficult to understand what Israel is up against in terms of the survival of their nation and the Jewish people. But there is one very easy way to grasp their challenge: just look at a map.
Israel is a tiny nation of 9 million people -- smaller than Massachusetts -- that is entirely surrounded by Islamic countries. And certainly, while not all of those nations are active enemies, dating back to the war of 1948, all of them have attacked Israel and tried to destroy it at one point or another. Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Yemen have all participated in attempts to end Israel. And that's not even counting the non-nation terrorist groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and Islamic Jihad (many of whom are supported or funded by some of the nations above).
Luckily for Israel, there is a NATO country not far to the north that they can count on. Surely, Turkey understands Israel's right to exist, right?
Right?
Yeah, not so much, it turns out.
Yesterday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met in Ankara to try to ease tensions between the two nations. At a press conference, both leaders spoke about Israel's war against Hamas following the October 7 terrorist attacks. Mitsotakis said what you would expect any NATO country to say: Israel has a right to defend itself and Hamas are terrorists.
Greek prime minister Mitsotakis to Erdogan’s face:
— ציוני כחול לבן (@Admeliorax) May 13, 2024
“Israel has every right for self defence. Hamas is a terrorist organisation.” pic.twitter.com/DQRre6n6mG
Then it was Erdogan's turn to speak. And, excuse us, but WTF? Watch:
Turkish President Erdogan says calling Hamas terrorists is “upsetting.”
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) May 13, 2024
“I never see Hamas as a terror organization.”
Erdogan has also said Turkey is treating Hamas members in their hospitals.
“In my country right now more than 1000 members of Hamas are in our hospitals.” pic.twitter.com/NX6QbAwhXr
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Hamas murdered, raped, and took hostage Israeli civilians -- men, women, children, and babies -- on October 7, but calling them terrorists is 'upsetting'? And Turkey is harboring more than 1,000 members of Hamas?
This is a country we want in NATO?
Obviously, everyone, even terrorist combatants, is entitled to receive medical care for injuries sustained in a war. But based on Erdogan's speech, we get the feeling that Turkey is not turning any of them over to Israel afterward. At best, Turkey is giving them safe harboring. At worst, they could eventually return them to the battlefield.
Of course, none of this comes as a surprise given the person who was speaking.
Erdogan still denies the Armenian, Assyrian, & Greek Orthodox Genocides. He claims to be for secularism (just like Ataturk), yet the islamization of Turkey rapidly continues. He's officially converted the Hagia Sophia into a mosque. And he's in the Muslim Brotherhood. So... https://t.co/s6oxL12I4O
— LoLo 🇺🇸🇮🇱💚🦁🤍☀️❤️ #NotYourDhimmi (@LoLo_0707) May 14, 2024
Yikes. When can Turkey be kicked out of NATO?
And it got even worse than that, believe it or not. In a separate interview yesterday, Erdogan went full Godwin's Law and declared Benjamin Netanyahu a genocidal leader comparable to Hitler.
Erdogan accused Israel of targeting civilians, hospitals, and aid convoys, purposely starving Palestinians in the enclave, and turning Gaza into an 'open-air prison,' in an interview (Greek) with Greece’s Kathimerini daily.
'Netanyahu has reached a level that would make Hitler jealous with his genocidal methods,' he said.
With talk like that, Erdogan could practically be an American college student, ripping up his diploma. Is Hamas now running public relations for Turkey?
After kidnapping an 8-month-old baby, and with all the raping of women and burning of elders they did, if #Hamas is not a terrorist militia according to #Erdogan, then I guess ISIS is a human rights organization, North Korea is a democratic state, and Iran is a liberal example of…
— Amjad Taha أمجد طه (@amjadt25) May 13, 2024
Up is down, black is white, and Turkey is a failed state that is no friend to the West.
Kick #Turkey out of #NATO ! https://t.co/sSgL1Yexf7
— Christopher Calvin Reid (@ReidFirm) May 14, 2024
Turkey is a NATO country. Why? https://t.co/lKGShhV8st
— Josh Z (@BostonJoshZ) May 14, 2024
WTF? How is this terrorist incubator still supposed to be a NATO member and EU ally @jensstoltenberg @vonderleyen? When will you ever sober up to their rotten actions? https://t.co/CImTyAVyk6
— Demetrio (@theemetris) May 14, 2024
With 'allies' like Turkey ...
Egypt denies about half the medical exits from Gaza - but terrorists manage to exit easily. https://t.co/FVodLRLmYI
— Elder of Ziyon 🇮🇱 (@elderofziyon) May 13, 2024
The question of exactly HOW Hamas terrorists managed to get to Turkey is a critical one that demands answers.
But don't count on Joe Biden demanding those answers of Turkey or Egypt. He probably thinks 'Erdogan' is the name of a kids' fantasy movie.
So basically, Turkish President Erdogan is a terrorist denier while being proud of giving aid to terrorists... got it. 🙄 https://t.co/L5ae85EeMx
— P Taylor (@TurnPatriot) May 14, 2024
Birds of a feather. https://t.co/cgw67OwQbD
— Miss Chingster - Pronouns - Bite/me (@Myon22visMin) May 14, 2024
Given Erdogan's history, yes. Hamas seems like just his cup of tea.
This situation highlights the weakness of the American administration. While Hamas holds five American hostages, Erdogan shows no concern for expressing support for Hamas. He knows Biden, Sullivan, and Blinken won’t take action. https://t.co/hPurTauUMS
— raz_sauber (@raz_sauber) May 13, 2024
That is a very sad -- and sobering -- truth right there. The weakness of the Biden administration (and, inevitably because of that, the weakness of NATO) could not be more obvious to the entire world. Friends can't trust America, and enemies know they have nothing to fear and can act with impunity.
What's even more worrying is that Turkey seems to be sidling right on over to that second camp.
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