Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday asserted that Israel's ambitions regarding its so-called "promised land" were destined to fail.
He labelled Israel as a "Zionist terrorist organization" in light of its ongoing military actions in Gaza, claiming that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would not limit his aspirations to Palestinian territories but would also target neighbouring countries, including Türkiye.
The concept of the “promised land” is central to Zionist ideology, representing territories that extremist Zionists believe were divinely promised to them, which include modern-day Israel and parts of neighbouring nations. For centuries, this idea has been pivotal in shaping Zionist identity, serving as a spiritual and historical foundation. It has often justified violent actions against civilians, manifested through attacks and airstrikes in and around Israel.
Today, the Promised Land continues to play a crucial role in Israeli society and politics, particularly regarding territorial claims and national identity. It has also become a focal point in Netanyahu's speeches, rallying his Zionist supporters both domestically and internationally.
At last month’s UN General Assembly, Netanyahu displayed a map titled "The Curse," illustrating a territory extending from Lebanon to Iran’s eastern border and Syria’s northern region, which borders Türkiye. Another map he presented excluded the West Bank and Gaza Strip but portrayed all of that land as part of Israel, which Palestinians interpret as a clear intention to annex the West Bank.
In his address to lawmakers from his ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), Erdoğan emphasized that Türkiye is "aware of where Israel’s expansionist policies will ultimately lead" and assured that "Türkiye will never compromise its security," asserting that the country possesses the strength to dismantle Israel's ambitions.
Erdoğan reiterated his condemnation of Western nations, particularly the United States, for their support of Israel, labelling it as "hypocritical." He stated, "Israel has committed the greatest genocide of the past century in Gaza. History will never forgive those who applauded Netanyahu, who has the blood of tens of thousands on his hands," referencing the standing ovations Netanyahu received during his visit to the U.S. Congress in July.
He also remarked on the recent cross-border fire between Israel and Iran, indicating that it has heightened the risk of regional conflict and called for increased dialogue, asserting, "Given the current atmosphere in our region, we believe we need to communicate more and seek reconciliation."
