Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s strongman tactics render him appealing to those who are most dedicated to the vision of Islamic expansion. They are increasingly regarding him as “leader of the Muslim world,” particularly since the UAE-Israel peace agreement. Erdogan’s “popularity with Palestinians reflects his long championing of their struggle for nationhood and comes as their cause has slid down the list of regional concerns,” and their gratitude has been evident:
At Friday prayers at the Al Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem, the faithful often hold up portraits of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish president, worshipping under the gleaming gold crescent on the Dome of the Rock that was paid for by Turkey. Mr Erdogan’s popularity with Palestinians reflects his long championing of their struggle for nationhood and comes as their cause has slid down the list of regional concerns, sidelined by Israel’s wooing of the Gulf states. He has stepped into that vacuum, coupling his adventures in Libya and Syria with a desire to wield influence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
In response to the Israel-UAE peace deal, the polarities in the Muslim world are becoming stark. Hamas MP Mushir Al-Masri has accused the UAE of “high treason against Allah” and likened the UAE to “an adulteress who is marrying an adulterer.” Meanwhile, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) “vowed that there would be dangerous consequences for the United Arab Emirates.” The IRGC “called the deal a ‘shameful’ agreement and an ‘evil action’ that was underwritten by the U.S.”
Although divided by the old Sunni-Shi’a enmity, Iran and Turkey share enemies and expansionary ambitions. The two countries “are increasingly coordinating policies across the Middle East as they work together on several issues.” One of those issues is “support for Hamas and also their antipathy toward Israel.” Events are unfolding rapidly. A few weeks ago, Turkey hosted a large Hamas delegation, and right after that, Turkey granted citizenship to dozens of the most senior Hamas jihadist operatives and their families. And Erdogan’s latest threat is bound to appeal to the most devout jihadists. He stated: “We are not a society that has an army – we are a nation that is itself an army.”
“Erdogan and Hamas: ‘He’s presenting himself as leader of Muslim world,’” by Mehul Srivastava and Laura Pitel , Financial Times, September 9, 2020:
At Friday prayers at the Al Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem, the faithful often hold up portraits of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish president, worshipping under the gleaming gold crescent on the Dome of the Rock that was paid for by Turkey.
Mr Erdogan’s popularity with Palestinians reflects his long championing of their struggle for nationhood and comes as their cause has slid down the list of regional concerns, sidelined by Israel’s wooing of the Gulf states.
He has stepped into that vacuum, coupling his adventures in Libya and Syria with a desire to wield influence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
For Israel the most troubling aspect is his embrace of Hamas, the militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, and is considered a terrorist group by Israel, the EU and the US.
The US, a close Israel ally, has also voiced concerns. Last month, in a rare public statement on this relationship, it strongly objected to Mr Erdogan hosting two Hamas leaders in Istanbul, chiding him for his “outreach to the terrorist organisation”.
The US rebuke came after Mr Erdogan tweeted a photo of his meeting with Hamas figures, including Saleh al-Arouri, a prominent military commander who worked in Lebanon, Syria and the occupied West Bank.
There are both geopolitical and ideological considerations here,” said Sarah Feuer, a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and the INSS in Tel Aviv, referring to Turkey’s regional rivalry with the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
“Erdogan sees emerging alliances in the region as a threat but he’s also presenting himself as the leader of the Muslim world and flag bearer for Islamist movements, to counter the Emirati-Saudi-Egyptian camp. There’s a broader struggle still under way over the contours of the regional order, and that is partly what motivates him.”…
CogitoErgoSum says
I wonder how often he beats his wife.
Nightlife says
Not half as much as when he discovers that Israel is about to sign a peace treaty with Bahrain, God help her!
mortimer says
The question is how often he discriminates against non-Muslims.
Moreover, how often does Erdogan beat up journalists and his political opponents?
Wellington says
Temporary alliances only. Traditionally, Turks and Arabs despise one another just as Sunnis and Shiites have. So, Erdogan being supported by Palestinian Arabs and Sunni Turkey in alliance with Shiite Iran are ephemeral phenomena when looked at through an historical lens.
And let’s not forget that in August of 1939 there was formed the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact. That worked out peacefully in the long run, now didn’t it?
Rarely says
Any joint Turkish-Iran cooperation with various Palestinian militant groups can cause an awful lot of trouble before it falls apart. The Palestinians, of course, will go anywhere they can for support. An attempt to topple Arab regimes that make peace with Israel can be expected. These are dangerous times with such strange bedfellows.
Wellington says
I agree, but then the Nazi-Soviet Pact of 1939 caused an awful lot of trouble (especially for Poland) before it fell apart.
mortimer says
Turkey gave the Pally leaders Turkish citizenship so they may escape to northern Cyprus to their monster homes and not be deported.
Rarely says
I don’t think so Mortimer — especially since a note from the Turkish gov’t would accomplish the same thing. IF anything was necessary at all.
It’s clearly a shot at the West, He’s testing how far he can push. Eyes on ALL of Cyprus.
ElderlyZionist says
“Iran and Turkey share enemies and expansionary ambitions.”
Their ambitions are fundamentally in conflict. That must work in our favor, over the long run.
James Lincoln says
Does anybody know how the Trump administration is dealing with Tayyip Erdogan behind the scenes?
I can’t seem to find much public information…
David Grisez says
This Recep Tayyip Erdogan is another dangerous man. He has big dreams of bringing back the Ottoman Empire with him as the new caliph. His big dreams could start another war in the Middle East.
DavidR says
Everything about this man shouts “sociopathic narcissist”. Just like Muhammad he abuses the trust of the naive and amplifies the us vs. them narrative that has sustained Islam since the beginning. Everything he does is to reinforce and increase his power and projected image as Islam’s top runner for Caliph of the Universe.
Wellington says
I agree. Erdogan’s psychological make-up is one of a very screwed-up but clever, power-hungry, brutal and narcissistic personality. He’s also quite ignorant of what the best of mankind has accomplished, for instance the USA.
He’s trouble. Will be most likely until he’s dead. Rather like Hitler and Saddam Hussein.
Dvid L says
And the Iranian General that found himself under an Amercian drone.
al-ameen says
You better know history before adding your voice to any unforeseen Circumstance!
gravenimage says
Is this a threat from al-ameen here to David? Sure sounds like it. The truth is that what he *really* hates is how knowledgeable people are here about Islam and the vicious “Prophet” Muhammed.
gravenimage says
Erdogan presenting himself as ‘leader of the Muslim world’ as Palestinians hail him at Al Aqsa mosque
……………
Nothing like a Muslim threatening his non-aggressive Infidel neighbors to make his coreligionists laud him as a “leader”. *Ugh*.
john smith says
Grimly true GI.
Mike says
to many chiefs and not enough Indians
jamal anriki says
Erdogan is guilty of international war crimes for the ethnic cleansing in Afrin,Tel Abid,and other Rojava villages (northwest Syria/Kurdistan) he has supported ISIS,AL-NUSRA and his troops are currently helping terrorists kill kurds ,the openly wear turkish military uniforms with the black and white ISIS flag on their sleeves
Mafya says
You are so right. Turkey is a fascist, Islamist terror state with a bloody-handed dictator named Erdogan. They hate Kurds so much that they ally themselves with the horrible ISIL. Turkey, Erdogan and their allies must pay for their crimes against humanity. But there are not so many countries stand up to Turkey. It seems France is the biggest country stands up to Turkey.
I want to share a story from the Northern Kurdistan ( Kurdistan in Turkey). Recently a young Kurdish girl was raped by a Turkish soldier for a few days and then she commited suicide. And the soldier who raped her was said to the girl that “Nothing will happen to me, go complain about me wherever you want”. And nothing happened to him. Fascist Turkish government set him free.
Boycott Turkey says
That’s awful poor Girl I’m very angry at the injustice this solider should be in jail or executed and Erdogan should be on trial for war crimes against Kurds Trump betrayed the Kurds who helped the US fight Isis The US should be arming the Kurds Turkey is no friend to the US it’s only a friend to Isis
Mafya says
That’s true, I agree with you, Boycott Turkey. Turkey is commiting a genocide against Kurds, recently bombing their villages in Iraqi Kurdistan. But gladly there are Kurdish militant resistance organizations that tries to defend the Kurds from attacks. Turkey considers Kurdish resistance organizations as “terrorists” and allies themselves with the horrible, genocidal ISIL. ISIL was destroyed an Armenian Genocide memorial in Syria. This reveals Turkey and ISIL are same.
gravenimage says
Horribly–*poor girl*. I am not surprised, though.
The Istanbulian says
Fleas love the dog