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Erdoğan turning into Gaddafi, Chavez, says Israel’s Lieberman
The remarks by Lieberman apparently came in response to Erdoğan’s recent criticism of Israel. The prime minister said on Sunday that “as Gaza burns and dark clouds form over Jerusalem, we can’t stay [silent].” His remarks were delivered at an opening ceremony for the state-run Turkish Radio and Television Corporation’s (TRT) launch of a new Arabic-language channel, “TRT al Turkiye” -- a move that Erdoğan has hailed as a landmark in uniting the Turkish and Arab peoples.
Lieberman said he believes Erdoğan is “slowly turning into Gaddafi or Chavez,” Ynetnews, an English-language Israeli news portal who spoke with Lieberman on Monday evening, reported on Tuesday. “It’s his choice. The problem is not Turkey, the problem is Erdoğan,” Lieberman also said.
Lieberman didn’t elaborate on what kind of similarities he found between Erdoğan and the two leaders, while also apparently avoiding using any adjectives to describe either Gaddafi or Chavez. Yet, some commentators call these two leaders “authoritarian,” while calling Libya and Venezuela “rogue states.”
Erdoğan, responding to a question on the Israeli foreign minister’s remarks during a visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, said he wouldn’t engage in a discussion through the media. “In addition, that guy is not my interlocutor,” he added.
 Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi (R) congratulates Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan following his speech during the Arab League Summit in March. Erdoğan dismissed Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman’s remarks that he is “slowly turning into Gaddafi or Chavez.” |
Lieberman, leader of the far-right Yisrael Beiteinu, was the architect of a diplomatic scandal carried out by Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon and targeting Turkey’s outgoing Ambassador to Israel Ahmet Oğuz Çelikkol in January. Over the weekend, President Abdullah Gül approved a decree reshuffling key ambassadorial posts at the Foreign Ministry, which has posted Çelikkol back to Ankara. Çelikkol will be replaced by Kerim Uras, a young diplomat with expertise in Cyprus affairs.
“We will not and we cannot turn a blind eye to the murder of innocent children and people wherever [it takes place] on the world, not only in our region. Just as we united our hearts for Haiti and we sent our prayers for Chile, we cannot remain indifferent when black clouds are hovering over Jerusalem, which is the apple of the eye of our civilization. From now on, we want an end to bloodshed on the earth, most of all in our region; we want no more tears to be shed; and we want peace and welfare to be sovereign on earth. All of our efforts have been aimed at this goal,” Erdoğan had said.
Lieberman’s remarks were not the sole response to Erdoğan’s remarks on Gaza.
His ministry released a written statement on the issue Sunday, on the same day Erdoğan’s speech was delivered, according to Israeli media. The Israeli Foreign Ministry suggested that Erdoğan is attempting to integrate with the Muslim world at the expense of his country’s ties with Israel.
“Israel is not interested in confrontation with any country, including Turkey. The impression that is being created is that the Turkish prime minister is seeking to integrate with the Muslim world at Israel’s expense,” said the statement, English-language Israeli daily Haaretz reported.
“We suggest he find a more creative way and to try to integrate with both the Muslim and Western worlds without turning into an extremist leader in the style of Hugo Chavez,” the statement continued, echoing Lieberman’s remarks.
Referring to remarks by Erdoğan concerning the murder of children in Gaza, the ministry suggested that “he should be equally concerned for the killing of innocent civilians in Pakistan and Iraq at the hands of terrorist groups,” Haaretz said.
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