Erdogan calls Israel out as 'terrorist state' that 'kills children'

RT
Sun, 10 Dec 2017 14:13 UTC

© Mohamad Torokman / Reuters

Clashes near the Jewish settlement of Beit El, near the West Bank city of Ramallah December 9, 2017

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lashed out against Israel Sunday, calling it a 'terrorist state' that 'kills children.' Erdogan promised to fight to the bitter end against Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish state.

"Palestine is an innocent victim... as for Israel, it is a terrorist state, yes, terrorist!" Erdogan said at a congress of his ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) in the Turkish city of Sivas on Sunday. "We will not abandon Jerusalem to the mercy of a state that kills children," he added.

As for the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital, despite the Palestinians viewing the eastern part of the city as the capital of its future sovereign state, Erdogan promised to use "all means to fight" it, according to AFP.

Violent clashes have continued in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza for several days after Trump's announcement on Wednesday. Two Palestinians were killed and over 1,000 people injured on Friday, with a further 230 wounded on Saturday, as Israeli security forces fired tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon at the protesters.

Erdogan blasted Israel as an "oppressive, occupation state," calling the response of the police and military to the protests "disproportionate," Hurriyet reported.

"The US ignored a 1980 UN Security Council ruling regarding Jerusalem which the US itself signed at that time," Erdogan said as cited by the Daily Sabah. "A system in which the stronger one is regarded as being right can't constitute justice, peace and stability," he said, adding that the American approach could lead to more tragedies.

Comment: See as well: Turkish PM Erdogan: Israel has no conscience, has surpassed Hitler in barbarism

Adam Garrie comments for The Duran:

As a NATO member (however uncomfortable, a NATO member), should Erodgan up the stakes in his opposition to Israel, things could get incredibly difficult for the US. The US maintains its own nuclear weapons on Turkish soil at Incirlik Air Base, which is also used as a major air base for the US Air Force. Germany once too had a presence at Incirlik but was effectively kicked out by Ankara earlier this year.

If Turkey threatened the US with the deprivation of Incirlik or suspension of NATO membership, the alliance could crumble as currently constituted. If Turkey took things a step further and demanded the removal of US nuclear weapons from Turkish soil, such a move would constitute a profound international crisis.

It remains to be seen what Ankara will do in respect of the promised diplomatic sanctions against Tel Aviv.

In many ways, as a traditional US ally and Israeli partner, Turkey is well placed to make a move on the issue of Palestine that the US could not stop without risking a dynamic shake-up of not only regional political alignments (which are already well under way), but more importantly, a shake-up of the US ability to use Turkish facilities for its own warplanes and weapons. [...]

In Syria, Erdogan has re-aligned himself with the victorious side, but in Palestine, Turkey could take a bold move of one kind or another in order to fulfil Erdogan's long standing dream of being a hero to the Arab and Muslim world. [...]

This is not to say that Turkey will militarily intervene in Palestine, but Turkey possesses many diplomatic, economic and military-logistical tools at its disposal which can be employed to relieve Palestine.

Iran is already considered an enemy by both the US and Israel. Turkey on the other hand, by going against its traditional allies, would in some ways be making an even more seismic statement, if indeed, further action is taken by Ankara over the issue of Palestine.