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🇮🇱 Israel /Elections & Politics

Erdogan ties 'genociding, expansionist, occupying' Zionism to threats to Turkey, 2016 coup attempt

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated his claim that the 2016 coup attempt was orchestrated by "Zionism."
  • Erdogan linked this ideology to threats against Turkey and its citizens, drawing parallels with the actions of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO).
  • He also addressed internal societal divisions, urging Turks to avoid "artificial tensions" and focus on national unity and survival.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has once again asserted that the July 15, 2016, coup attempt was orchestrated by "the genocidal, occupying, and expansionist ideology called Zionism." Speaking at a commemoration event for the Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Sakarya Province, Erdogan drew a direct line between this alleged ideology and threats facing Turkey and its people.

When FETO carried out its treacherous coup attempt, it was not directed only against me or against the AKP, but against Turkey and against all of its 86 million citizens.

— Recep Tayyip ErdoganErdogan described the 2016 coup attempt during his speech.

The 2016 coup attempt, blamed by Ankara on followers of US-based preacher Fetullah Gülen, led to widespread purges. Erdogan's government has since arrested hundreds of thousands, accusing them of links to what it terms the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO). Erdogan described these purges as "cleansing Turkey of the FETO betrayal network" for the sake of the nation's future.

the genocidal, occupying, and expansionist ideology called Zionism.

— Recep Tayyip ErdoganErdogan identified 'Zionism' as the orchestrator of the coup attempt and a threat to Turkey.

Erdogan extended this accusation of threat beyond FETO, stating that "Zionism" also "threatens not only me, not only our party, and not only our alliance, but everyone." He framed the fight against this ideology as a struggle for Turkey's survival and the collective well-being of its citizens. He drew a parallel to the actions of the "terrorist organization" (referring to the PKK) which, he said, shed blood indiscriminately for decades.

When we fight Zionism, we are not conducting a personal struggle for ourselves - we are conducting this struggle for our own survival and for the collective survival of our nation.

— Recep Tayyip ErdoganErdogan framed the fight against Zionism as a matter of national survival.

Furthermore, Erdogan addressed internal divisions within Turkish society, including conflicts between political ideologies, religious sects, and ethnic groups. He lamented the "years, energy, and young people" lost to "unnecessary debates, conflicts, and disputes." Urging national unity, he called for an end to "artificial tensions" and emphasized the need to focus on the country's survival and collective future, stating, "We are not doing so for one particular segment or for the interests of one particular group. We are ending it for our country, homeland, state, and nation."

We no longer want our nation to pay new prices, or waste the country's energy on artificial tensions.

— Recep Tayyip ErdoganErdogan urged national unity and avoidance of internal conflicts.
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Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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