The doll in the form of the Prime Minister was placed in the city of Trabzon as part of an anti-Israel protest • Behind the initiative is a lecturer at a local university who claimed that “in Gaza the right to life of innocents is being violated” • Erdogan, at a party gathering in Ankara, praised “Turkey’s steps on the way to becoming a global power”
A doll in the image of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was hung yesterday (Friday) on a crane in the city of Trabzon in eastern Turkey, on the shores of the Black Sea, with the sign “The execution of Benjamin Netanyahu” above it – according to documentation distributed in the local media and social networks.
The anti-Israel demonstration was initiated by Dr. Kamal Sa’lam, a lecturer at a regional university, who claimed that it was a protest against “the violation of the right to life of women, children and innocent citizens in Gaza.” According to him, “The world cannot remain silent in the face of this crime. This is a symbolic call – the real trials should take place in international courts.”
The event caused an uproar in Turkey, but did not draw official condemnation from the authorities. Today, in a speech he gave at a party convention in Ankara, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that “we are going through a painful period, and wars threaten our environment.” He added that “Turkey, thanks to the determined steps it is taking, is now becoming a global power. Today, when you think of peace, tranquility and stability – Turkey is the first thing that comes to mind.”
Erdogan added: “From Gaza to Syria, from the Gulf to Ukraine – no settlement will be possible without Turkey’s involvement. Turkey today is a respected voice in the region and the entire world, and is seen as a country that exports peace. First we will guarantee that we will be a country cleansed of terrorism, then we will guarantee a region cleansed of terrorism.”
Against the background of the construction of the international force that is expected to operate in Gaza – US Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified yesterday that Turkey will only be a member if Israel agrees to it. “Many countries want to join the international force that is established and will operate in Gaza,” said Rubio. “The countries need to know what the powers of the force they are joining are. There is a lot to work on.”