Erdoğan signals vetoing NATO-Israel cooperation

Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan said until peace in Palestine, starting from a ceasefire in Gaza, Türkiye will not approve NATO-Israel cooperation projects.(Photo: Turkish Presidency)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on July 12 that “Until a comprehensive, sustainable peace is established in Palestine, attempts at cooperation with Israel within NATO will not be approved by Türkiye.” In a press conference following the NATO 75th-year Summit in Washington DC Erdoğan said: “It is not possible for the Israeli administration, which has trampled on the fundamental values ​​of our alliance, to continue its partnership relationship with NATO”.

Israel is one of the countries with partnership relations with the 32-member Western defense alliance since 1987. In the ongoing Israeli military campaign in Gaza more than 38 thousand Palestinians were killed, following the Hamas attack on Israel causing near 1200 killings on October 7, 2023.

Erdoğan also said: “Netanyahu administration with its expansionist and reckless policies, endangers the security of not only its own citizens, but also the entire region.”

Türkiye, Spain and Norway

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanches also urged his NATO partners to show the same “unity and consistency” when it comes to Gaza as they have demonstrated toward Ukraine.

Accusing NATO to apply “double standards” when it comes to Gaza, Sanchez stressed the need for an urgent cease fire, pointing out “a real risk of escalation to Lebanon”.

Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide of Norway, another NATO member had earlier blasted his allies for “[hesitating] to use the same type of language against violations of international humanitarian law [in Gaza] that we easily apply when they are violated by Russia in Ukraine.”

Norway and Spain are among the NATO members who recognized Palestine as a state. Türkiye and Spain are among countries applied to International Court of Justice in support of South Africa who filed a genocide case against Israel because of its atrocities in Gaza.