Cultural Minister: Erdogan Terror Supporter; Rethink Relations

Culture and Sport Minister Miki Zohar said today (Wednesday) that “Erdogan is a terror supporter, period. The time has come to rethink our relations with Turkey.” The comment comes in response to Erdogan’s comments today, where he said “Hamas is not a terrorist organization.”

Earlier today, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed the war in Israel, saying “Hamas is not a terrorist organization, but a liberation movement conducting a war to defend its land.”

He added that “We have no problem with the State of Israel but we have a problem with its policy regarding the Palestinians. Netanyahu exploited my handshake. I had good intentions, I wanted to come to Israel – but I will not come.”

He also said that “When the forces they put their trust in disappear one day, the first place the Israeli people will seek trust and mercy is Turkey, just like 500 years ago.” Later he even hinted that Turkey will not aid Israel: “The states supporting Israel may owe it something, but Turkey owes it nothing.”

He ended by addressing the fighting in the Strip, saying “Israel’s attacks in Gaza are a situation which attests both to murder and also a state of mental illness, both those carrying them out and those who support them.”