Turkey, US in row over Erdoğan’s remarks on Israel

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s strong-worded criticism against Israel and the United States over the former’s military operations in Gaza has transformed into a diplomatic spat between Ankara and Washington, with Erdoğan calling for the U.S. to be “self-critical” over its Israel policy. 

“If America is still saying that ‘Israel is using its right to self-defense’ then it should be critical of itself. It’s America who is offensive,” Erdoğan told TGRT on July 20 in an interview.

Erdoğan’s remarks came in response to Jan Psaki, the spokesperson of the State Department, who said on July 18 that the “U.S. believes [Erdoğan’s] statements were offensive and wrong.”

The prime minister’s tone against Israel has increased since the Israeli army launched a ground operation into Gaza, which has claimed the lives of hundreds of innocent civilians. The prime minister accused Israel of committing genocide on the Palestinian people and called the country “a threat to international peace.” He further sharpened his statements on July 18 and 19 during public rallies, while he also criticized U.S. President Barack Obama’s statement that “Israel has the right to self-defense.”

“They always curse [Adolf] Hitler, but they [Israel] now even exceed him in barbarism. Some Americans ask why the prime minister [Erdoğan] makes such comparisons with Hitler. What’s that to you? You’re America, what’s Hitler got to do with you?” Erdoğan said on July 19, during a public rally in Ordu.

Meanwhile, the Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry have exchanged two phone...