A worrying signal for Israel: Erdogan's close associate on an extensive tour of the Middle East

Bilal Erdogan, the son of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is embarking on an extensive tour of the Middle East that includes meetings in Lebanon with the country's president and the three heads of the Lebanese government, as well as with Walid Jumblatt and Bahia Hariri. According to the report, no meetings have been scheduled with Hezbollah or other party leaders. In northern Lebanon, meetings are planned with parliament members and public figures in Tripoli, a visit to the Great Mansouri Mosque, and a tour of Ottoman-era buildings. Bilal Erdogan, 45, is a businessman active in education, culture, and traditional sports, and studied political science and economics at Indiana University and completed a master's degree in public administration at Harvard University. Some claim he acts on behalf of his father and may one day replace him.