Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan indicated a clear shift in his diplomatic posture toward Israel, stating that he can no longer view Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a suitable interlocutor. The remark, attributed to RIA News, reflects a moment of recalibration amid ongoing regional tensions and shifting alliances. The Turkish leader spoke about this new stance while aboard a plane returning from Astana after participating in a gathering of the Organization of Turkic States, held in the Kazakh capital.
Erdoğan’s comments underscored a decisive break in the formal channels that previously connected Ankara with Netanyahu. He asserted, in clear terms, that there is no ongoing direct communication with the Israeli prime minister in any capacity. The head of state emphasized that there had been a prior period of engagement, but that phase had ended. This publicly declared rupture signals a broader realignment in Turkey’s approach to the Israeli government, particularly as regional dynamics evolve and Turkish priorities shift toward regional diplomacy and security concerns. The president did, however, note that there remains a limited channel through which Ankara continues to engage with Israeli officials, via National Intelligence Agency Director İbrahim Kalın, who still maintains contact with Israeli counterparts. Erdoğan also mentioned ongoing discussions with representatives of Hamas and with Palestinian authorities, indicating that Turkey intends to pursue dialogue with multiple actors in the region even as it narrows one direct line of communication. In Erdoğan’s view, severing every link is neither practical nor feasible within the framework of international diplomacy, especially when interests intersect on global issues, regional stability, and humanitarian concerns. The remarks suggest a nuanced stance where selective diplomacy is favored over an outright diplomatic blackout. He cautioned that practical international relations cannot be entirely disentangled, and thus some forms of engagement may persist even amid public rhetorical distance.
In a related development, a political statement from the New Welfare Party circulated on 12 October, calling for significant changes in Turkey’s relations with Israel. The party leader, Fatih Erbakan, urged the government to expel Israel’s ambassador from Ankara and to recall Turkey’s own ambassador from Tel Aviv, arguing that a firm repositioning is overdue. Despite these calls, Turkish authorities had not yet implemented the proposed measures at the time of the report, reflecting the complexity of balancing domestic political momentum with formal diplomatic procedures. The incident highlights how opposition voices can influence the public debate on foreign policy while statesmen weigh strategic considerations, including regional security, economic ties, and the optics of leadership in a volatile environment. In parallel coverage, Erdoğan has previously attributed responsibility for alleged crimes against humanity to the Israeli government, a stance that resonates with long-standing criticisms held by various regional and international actors. This pronouncement adds another layer to the ongoing discourse about accountability, human rights, and the responsibilities of states in the pursuit of peace and stability in the Middle East. The interplay of rhetoric, policy choices, and on-the-ground actions continues to shape how Turkey positions itself on the world stage and how its relationship with Israel is perceived by partners and allies around the globe. [citation to RIA News]