Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz’s attempt to drive a wedge in Turkish politics backfired when Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s main rival, rejected his endorsement.
Katz criticised Erdoğan on social media, accusing him of transforming Turkey into a dictatorship. He wrote, “[Erdoğan] is turning Turkey into a dictatorship, against the stance of the entire free world, solely for the sake of supporting Hamas’s murderers and rapists.”
Katz further accused Erdoğan of blocking Instagram, which has 57 million users in Turkey, cutting sports broadcasts because an Israeli athlete defeated a Turkish one, threatening to invade a democratic country with which Turkey has no military conflict, and causing $6 billion annual damage to Turkish exporters by severing trade relations.
“Erdoğan is destroying a Turkish state with scientific, cultural, technological and economic capabilities, eliminating the legacy of Atatürk who built a progressive and prosperous Turkey,” Katz added, concluding with, “Let’s hope for days when everything will be beautiful,” mentioning İmamoğlu.
İmamoğlu swiftly rebuked Katz’s comments, stating, “I am returning this statement of yours that insults the flag of the Republic of Turkey and its President. We will not learn about democracy and law from those with the blood of tens of thousands of children on their hands. Yes, everything will be very beautiful. When Palestine is free.”
Gönül Tol, Director of Middle East Institute’s Turkish Programme, suggested Katz’s move was calculated. She stated, “Israeli foreign minister [Katz] attacks Erdogan and praises one of Erdogan’s top rivals who can challenge him in 2028, knowing full well his post would put Imamoglu in a difficult spot domestically. Why? Because Netanyahu and Co. want autocrats to remain in power in the middle east.”
The exchange occurs amid escalating tensions between Turkey and Israel. Erdoğan had earlier threatened potential military action against Israel, comparing it to Turkey’s past interventions in Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh. However, documents obtained by Rojnews suggest that Israeli parts are used in Turkish drones, indicating continued military cooperation between the two countries.
