The events of Oct. 7, 2023, exposed the two-faced nature of Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Israel, it must be admitted, did not always understand the depth of the danger he poses. Erdogan is not a “complex actor” or a “potential mediator.” He is a declared enemy of Israel.
His response to the massacre – and, especially, his failure to clearly condemn the murder of civilians, rape, kidnappings, and the war crimes committed by Hamas – placed Turkey on the wrong side of history. More than that: Hamas is not merely an organization toward which Erdogan shows tolerance; it is a partner in worldview, ideology, and consciousness.
Instead of a clear and firm condemnation, the Turkish president chose to whitewash terrorism, define Hamas as a “liberation movement,” accuse Israel of war crimes, and spearhead a campaign of blatant incitement based on distortions of fact, lies, and an anti-Israel and anti-Jewish narrative. This was not an emotional or momentary reaction, but a calculated, ideological, and long-term policy designed to serve a broad regional agenda. Through his mouthpiece – the newspaper Yeni Safak – the Turkish strongman calls Israel “Turkey’s number one enemy.”
Already on October 6, the eve of the massacre, the machinery of incitement of political Islam around the world was operating. After October 7, Turkey became one of the central echo chambers of this inflammatory narrative. Media outlets identifying with the government broadcast systematic propaganda, Hamas flags were waved at demonstrations, and antisemitic rhetoric – disguised as “criticism of Israel” – became legitimate. Ankara thereby directly contributed to the global surge in antisemitism and to the delegitimization of the State of Israel on the international stage.
This conduct is not disconnected from Erdogan’s broader vision: neo-Ottomanism. Turkey seeks to once again become a regional imperial power, not only through military means but also through ideological and religious means. Erdogan aims to position himself as the leader of the Sunni Muslim world – one who sets the regional agenda and stands against both the West and Israel. In this context, Hamas constitutes a strategic asset.
SENIOR HAMAS figures operate from Turkey, enjoy political protection, and conduct free economic and political activity. Ankara refuses to recognize Hamas as a terrorist organization – even after October 7, even in the face of documented evidence, and even against a clear international consensus. In doing so, it places itself in line with states that support terrorism, while simultaneously demanding to continue being perceived as a legitimate Western partner.
Turkey's ties with NATO despite inciting against Israel, supporting terror
The hypocrisy becomes sharper in light of Erdogan’s efforts to obtain F-35 aircraft from the United States – the West’s most advanced fighter jets. The same president who incites against Israel, effectively supports a terrorist organization, and undermines regional stability, demands to benefit from advanced American military technology. This is not only diplomatic audacity – it is a tangible strategic danger.
At the same time, Turkey is acting decisively to establish facts on the ground in northern Syria. Through a permanent military presence, the creation of zones of influence, demographic change, and support for militias loyal to it, Ankara is attempting to redraw the region's borders. This is a classic imperial move aimed at creating territorial continuity and deep influence in the heart of the Middle East.
Behind this aggressiveness lies fear as well. Erdogan is alarmed by the emerging strategic alliance among Israel, Greece, and Cyprus – a security, diplomatic, and energy pact backed by the West. Cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean around energy, maritime security, and intelligence undermines Turkey’s ambition for regional dominance. It demonstrates that Israel is not isolated, but a central partner in a new regional order. Into this cauldron of interests enters Israel’s recognition of Somaliland – a state of about six million people.
Beyond sticking a finger in Erdogan’s eye, this represents an Israeli interest and a clear signal to the Turkish ruler who seeks to expand his influence and establish a military base in neighboring Somalia. Recognition of Somaliland also serves as a force multiplier for Israel against the Houthis.
TURKEY’S ENTRENCHMENT in northern Syria is not merely a Syrian issue – it is a direct challenge to Israel. Alongside Iranian entrenchment and Russian presence, Turkey is becoming yet another military actor in the northern arena, one with a hostile ideology and ties to one of our bitterest enemies – Hamas. The multiplication of hostile actors creates a volatile security reality in which any mistake can escalate into a broader confrontation.
Erdogan’s membership in NATO only sharpens the absurdity. NATO is supposed to be a value-based alliance of democracies. In practice, Turkey functions as a Trojan horse: a member of a Western alliance that suppresses opposition, persecutes journalists, cooperates with Qatar and Iran, and feeds open antisemitism.
US President Donald Trump used to refer to Recep Tayyip Erdogan as “my friend,” just as he referred to North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. In both cases, personal relationships replaced strategic judgment and granted legitimacy to authoritarian leaders who destabilize regional and global security.
Israel and the West must wake up. It is impossible to pursue a policy of “both-and”: both supporting terrorism, both being in NATO, both imposing facts by force in northern Syria, and also demanding F-35s. Erdogan’s Turkey has chosen its path – and it is clearer than ever: Erdogan is not part of the solution; he is part of the regional problem.
The author is the CEO of Radios 100FM, Honorary Consul and Deputy Dean of the Consular Diplomatic Corps, president of the Israeli Radio Communications Association, and a former Army Radio monitor and NBC television correspondent.