Erdogan: ‘Jews in Israel beat women and children’

On Saturday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Israeli Jews beat defenseless Palestinians, including women and children.

By World Israel News Staff

“The Jews in Israel kick people when they’re lying on the ground. In fact, Jews kick not only men, but women and children as well,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a meeting of the Turkey Youth Foundation, on Saturday, the Ynet news site reports.

“As Muslims, we will confront these people if they have courage to deal with us. We’ll teach them a lesson” Erdogan said.

According to Ynet, Israel concludes that Erdogan is turning to anti-Israel rhetoric to drum up popular support ahead of elections which will take place in about three months.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to Erdogan’s comments on Saturday, Ynet reports.

“Erdogan — the occupier of northern Cyprus, whose army massacres women and children in Kurdish villages, inside and outside Turkey – shouldn’t preach to Israel,” he said.

Erdogan has frequently made comments attacking Israel. In 2014, he compared Israel’s operation in Gaza to Hitler’s invasions in World War II. And since he has come to power, there have been increasing signs of anti-Semitism in the country, causing Istanbul’s shrinking Jewish community to apply for citizenship elsewhere.

According to the Gatestone Institute, Erdogan has demonstrated a consistently Islamist worldview, and often describes his mission as “raising devout [Muslim] generations.”