Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday called Israel a "Zionist terrorist organization" over its attacks on Gaza and Lebanon, and repeated his criticism of Western powers, namely the United States, over the support given to Israel.
Speaking to lawmakers from his ruling AK Party in parliament, Erdogan also said the cross-border fire between Israel and Iran in recent days had heightened the risk of a regional conflict.
Last week, Erdogan asserted in a speech that “the place that Israel — which is acting with the delirium of the promised lands — will set its sights on after Palestine and Lebanon will be our homeland.”
Critics say it was an attempt by Erdogan to divert attention from the country’s cost of living crisis and to consolidate nationalist and Islamist votes following a significant setback in local elections earlier this year.
