"One side wants to sow discord between us": Erdoğan's surprising message to Israelis

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan published a surprising message to the Israeli public in an interview with Newsweek magazine, emphasizing that his criticism is directed at the Israeli government, not the Israeli people. The remarks come amid rising tensions between the two U.S. allies, including an Israeli strike on an airbase in northern Syria that a Turkish military delegation had recently visited.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan published a surprising message to the Israeli public in an interview with Newsweek magazine. Erdoğan emphasized that his harsh criticism of the Israeli government is not directed at the Israeli people. "Turkey has no hostility toward the people of Israel, or toward any other society," he said. He added that what he opposes is a policy that he believes violates international law and steps that deepen instability in the region. The remarks come amid rising tensions between the two U.S. allies. Newsweek reported that the conflict entered a new phase after Israel attacked an airbase in northern Syria last month, shortly after a Turkish military delegation visited the site. Israel claimed that Turkish military presence in Syria could change the balance of power and limit the Air Force's freedom of action. Ankara, in turn, accused Israel of violating Syrian sovereignty. The article presents Erdoğan's words as published, with direct quotes, and provides context for the security tensions between the countries.