Turkiye’s FM Fidan says Israel using security as a pretext to acquire ‘more land’

Ankara, Turkey – Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has sharply criticized Israel's actions in the region, accusing the Netanyahu government of using security concerns as a false pretext to pursue territorial expansion. Speaking at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Fidan asserted that Israel's primary objective is not its own security but rather the acquisition of "more land."

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Israel is not after its own security. Israel is after more land. Security is being used by the Netanyahu government as an excuse to occupy more land.

Fidan elaborated that Israel has created an "illusion internationally" by claiming to prioritize its security, but recent events have made its expansionist agenda clear. He pointed to Israel's actions extending from Palestinian territories like Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, to incursions towards Lebanon and Syria, characterizing these as part of a continuous pattern of "occupation and expansionism."

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Israel has created an illusion internationally, claiming that Israel is in favour of its own security but it has become very clear, especially in the recent years … it is more than that.

From Turkey's perspective, as articulated by Fidan, this aggressive posture must cease. He stressed that true peace in the region can only be achieved if Israel acknowledges and respects the security, territorial integrity, and freedom of its neighbors. This strong condemnation reflects Turkey's consistent stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its broader regional policy, emphasizing the need for a just and lasting resolution based on international law and mutual respect. The Turkish Foreign Ministry has previously rebuked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, highlighting the deepening diplomatic rift between the two nations.

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He said from the Palestinian lands, Gaza, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and now towards Lebanon and Syria, it was “an onward occupation and expansionism in the region”.