Erdogan’s election strategy: Anti-Israel fury, diplomatic fallout

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan praised Pope Leo's stance on the Palestinian issue after meeting him in Ankara on Thursday, and said he hoped his first overseas visit as Catholic leader will benefit humanity at a time of tension and uncertainty.

"We commend (Pope Leo's) astute stance on the Palestinian issue," Erdogan said in an address to the Pope and political and religious leaders at the presidential library in the Turkish capital Ankara.

"Our debt to the Palestinian people is justice, and the foundation of this is to immediately implement the vision of a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders. Similarly, preserving the historic status of Jerusalem is crucial," Erdogan said.

Pope Leo's calls for peace and diplomacy regarding the war in Ukraine are also very meaningful, Erdogan said.

In September, Leo met at the Vatican with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and raised the "tragic situation" in Gaza with him.

Turkey has emerged as among the harshest critics of Israel's bombardment of Gaza, in its conflict there with Palestinian terrorist group Hamas.

President Erdogan’s hostility toward Israel is no secret. His radical positions and unwavering support for Hamas are driven as much by domestic politics as by regional ambition. With presidential elections approaching, Erdogan is seeking to galvanise AKP voters through anti-Israel rhetoric, while simultaneously attempting to position himself as a key diplomatic player in the Middle East.

Yet this strategy comes at a cost. Far from elevating his regional standing, Erdogan’s posture has eroded his credibility among Arab partners, many of whom view his alignment with Hamas and his inflammatory rhetoric as politically opportunistic and diplomatically counterproductive.