Erdogan calls for Islamic alliance against Israel expansion threat
- Erdogan's call for an Islamic alliance comes after the reported killing of a Turkish-American woman by Israeli troops during a protest in the West Bank.
- He emphasized the need for solidarity among Islamic nations to counter Israeli expansionism, which he claims threatens regional stability.
- The Turkish president's diplomatic efforts aim to improve relations with Egypt and Syria, indicating a strategic shift in Turkey's foreign policy.
On Saturday, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan called for an alliance among Islamic countries to counter what he described as Israel's expansionist threats. His remarks followed the reported killing of a Turkish-American woman by Israeli troops during a protest against settlement expansion in the West Bank. Erdogan emphasized that unity among Islamic nations is essential to halt what he termed Israeli arrogance and state terrorism. He also highlighted Turkey's recent diplomatic efforts to mend ties with Egypt and Syria, aiming to create a united front against perceived threats to regional stability, which he believes also endanger Lebanon and Syria. Erdogan's outreach to Egypt included a recent meeting with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, marking the first presidential visit in over a decade. This thawing of relations began in 2020 as Turkey sought to improve its standing with regional rivals, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, Erdogan expressed willingness to invite Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for talks to restore relations, which were severed in 2011 due to the Syrian civil war. In response to the incident involving the Turkish-American woman, Israel's military stated it was investigating the circumstances surrounding her death, but there was no immediate comment from Israeli leadership regarding Erdogan's statements.