Turkey welcomed the UN-vote against the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The Turkish government not only voted against the resolution, they also led the campaign against Israel in this process. Erdoğan called for an Islamic summit to condemn the US move and to make an appearance, declared East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine as well.
He also went one step forward and said that the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel may pave the way to the termination of Turkish-Israeli relations which have just recovered after 6 years of interruption. He added that Turkey is planning to establish an embassy in East Jerusalem.
But he didn’t stop there. Erdoğan also called Israel the state of terror, the murderer of children, a state which has no value other than occupation and looting. Those statements were the indirect expressions of a covert opinion that sees the state of Israel as an illegitimate entity. Apparently, those statements spread to the wider audience and fuelled anti-semitic sentiments.
The religious segments of the society started to demonstrate after Friday prayers and the Turkish government condoned to those protests if not supported. Jerusalem had become one of the major issues of the Turkish foreign policy and repeatedly exploited in the government rallies.
It is difficult to explain why the Erdoğan rule signed an agreement with a state which they think is a ‘murderous and terrorist one’ in the first place in 2016, or why they became so interested in this issue at a time when the Arab states even hesitate to take a proactive stance. Barely two years later, the Turkish rule seemed to cut ties with Israel and this policy could be considered highly controversial as well as spineless in terms of fundamental principles which the Islamist government has been advocating for years.
The recent developments prove this lack of substantiality in the policy-making process. In the last weeks, the Jerusalem issue appears to get out of Erdoğan’s sight. As Israel maintains its political position and does not show any signs of retreat, Erdoğan keeps his silence and the pragmatic approach of the Turkish rule to exploit foreign policy issues to secure their domestic position continues.
The functionality of such an approach is highly debatable, but the real problem is that the hatred they ignite may have long-lasting effects on peace and stability in the region.