Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has responded favorably to a demand by the American Jewish Congress that he return the group’s “Profile of Courage” award given to him 10 years for trying to mediate between Israel and the Palestinian Authority and for fighting terrorism after two deadly attacks on a synagogue and a bank.
Following Erdogan’s verbal rants the past month, such as asserting that Israel “surpassed Hitler in barbarism” through its attacks on Gaza.”
The AJC last week called Erdogan, once a close friend of Israel, the world’s “most virulent anti-Israeli leader.”
“A decade after we gave you our award, you have become arguably the most virulent anti-Israel leader in the world — spewing dangerous rhetoric for political gain and inciting the Turkish population to violence against the Jewish people,” wrote AJC president Jack Rosen. “Now, we want it bac.”
Rosen’s wish now will be granted according to Turkey’s Ambassador to the United States, Serdar Kılıç.
Erase any thoughts that Erdogan thinks he does not deserve the award. Perish the thought, said the ambassador, who insisted that his boss really does what he can for the security of Jews and backs a two-state solution.. That could mean the Palestinian Authority and Israel or it could mean two Palestinian Authority states – one from Kiryat Shmona to Eilat and from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, and the other in Gaza.
The ambassador also says that Erdogan still is a great warrior against terrorism. That is why he thinks so highly of Hamas.
So what terrorism does Erdogan fight?
Ambassador Kılıç explained that Turkey “stands against Israel’s state terrorism.”