We strongly denounce Muhammed Ali Fatih Erbakan’s radical campaign against Israel that would further enflame tensions in the region.

During an Oct. 19 address to Turkish parliament, Erbakan called for the immediate closure of NATO and U.S. military bases in Turkey and the denial of U.S. and Israeli access to Turkish airspace, ports and territorial waters. He made several radical demands against Israel, including the prosecution of Turkish citizens enlisting in the Israel Defense Forces and the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

 Erbakan referred to Israel’s defense against the attacks of Hamas as “Zionist terrorism” and emphasized his intention to take concrete action to deter it.

We strongly condemn the divisive and inflammatory demands made by Erbakan, which only serve to exacerbate tensions in the region.