In a speech to his party’s Parliamentary Group yesterday (October 25) President Erdogan lashed out at Israel for the atrocities it said it had committed against the Palestinians.

The attitude of the Turkish president in the Middle East conflict may, however, “cause problems for Erdogan on the international stage”, comments the German Journalism Network (RND). Erdogan’s intention to maintain a measured position “is becoming increasingly difficult as domestic political pressure grows,” at a time when “other coalition parties, such as the radical Islamist Hüda-Par, […] demand the severance of relations with Israel.”

Erdogan’s willingness to maintain a more neutral position is because he wants to improve his relations with the US. – to conclude an agreement for the purchase of F-16 fighter jets. During RND this is precisely the reason why “of all times the Turkish president has now given the green light to the Turkish parliament for the ratification of Sweden’s accession to NATO”.

After yesterday’s statements by the Turkish president, however, the tageszeitung criticizes Erdoğan for finally “belonging to the camp of those who […] they indirectly justify the terrorism of Hamas.” “Erdogan has positioned himself clearly against the Western alliance” and especially in a war that “will probably widen the gap between the West and the rest of the world, more than the war in Ukraine did.” An attitude that Erdogan does not adopt because of domestic pressures, “but out of deep conviction”.

“Guterres chose the right words”

The Secretary General of the U.N. Antonio Guterres said the attacks by Hamas did not come “in a vacuum”, prompting an angry reaction from Israel. For Tel Aviv, G.G. of the U.N. thereby legitimizing the actions of Hamas.

THE tageszeitung however, he judges that given his position and the existing conditions, “Guteres chose the appropriate words”. The task of G.G. is “to ensure that all sides, including Israel, protect the civilian population during conflicts. Considering the situation in Gaza, this was the only way for Guterres to assume his responsibilities.” After all, in reality “Guteres in no way denied Israel’s right to resist the horrific attack by Hamas and to do everything it can to free the 220 or so hostages taken by the terrorists.”

Some argue that “Israel, acting solely within the framework of international law, will have no way of responding to Hamas’ strategy of using the population as human shields. This is incorrect. International humanitarian law leaves room for a clear response to Hamas terrorism. It does not even categorically rule out attacks on targets that result in the killing of civilians. But it requires a corresponding reaction, a parameter that Guterres rightly reminded us”, concludes the taz.

France: A complex balance

French President Emmanuel Macron met with both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. During the talks, the French president favored a two-state solution.

However, “the invocation of the two-state solution at the given moment in time seems unrealistic”, she writes Handelsblatt. “Who would represent the Palestinian side in the negotiations is not the only question mark. There is no unity in the Western camp either – Europe cannot even come to a common position on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.”

The French president is called upon to manage a complex balance inside his country as well: “France hosts the largest Jewish community in Europe and at the same time many Muslim immigrants, but also part of the political left is more in favor of the Palestinians.” Nevertheless, “with the acrobatics that Macron is attempting, he risks causing diplomatic confusion at a time when the adoption of a clear position is much more necessary.”