Israel Defense Minister Slams Turkish President Erdogan as 'Paper Sultan'

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz launched an unprecedented verbal assault on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, responding directly to Erdogan's accusations against Israel at the UN General Assembly. Erdogan had used the international platform to label Gaza "the most inhumane concentration camp of our time."

Katz retorted, calling Erdogan "a paper sultan strong in antisemitic incitement speeches but weak in deeds." He highlighted a perceived gap between Erdogan's "bellicose declarations" and his "impotence in the regional arena." The defense minister pointed to Erdogan's alleged financial and political support for Hamas, contrasting it with his silence when Iran fired missiles into Turkish territory. Katz also noted Erdogan's alleged failure to defend Saudi Arabia against Houthi attacks on Mecca.

To emphasize his message, Katz tweeted in Turkish, including a cultural jab at the popular series "Diriliş Ertuğrul," which depicts the founding of the Ottoman Empire. He issued a stark warning: "I suggest he stop bothering Israel, which knows how to take care of itself. We are not the Kurds and the helpless whom he is currently abusing in Turkey."

This exchange occurs amid heightened security concerns. Earlier in September, Katz warned that increasing pressure on Tehran could lead to a direct attack on Israel. He stated that Israeli political and security leadership are monitoring the situation daily, with the Air Force prepared to operate in Iran if its threats materialize. "If they attack us, we will respond with great force, independent of anyone," Katz asserted, specifically mentioning the Iranian regime's tendency to act around Israeli holidays.