07.06.2026 21:30
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz targeted Turkey in a post on his social media account. Using insolent language against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci, Katz also tagged CHP Chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu, suspended Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, and Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavas in his post.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz used statements targeting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi in a post on his social media account. While Katz's remarks quickly became a topic of discussion, his tagging of CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, suspended Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, and Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş in the post drew attention.
TARGETED ERDOĞAN AND ÇİFTÇİ
Israel Katz stated that his post was a response to Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi's words: "My wish was for Allah to grant me the governorship of Jerusalem one day. I believe that the Almighty will show us those days, He surely will. I believed this with all my heart and continue to believe."
Katz made harsh statements towards Turkey, saying, "Jerusalem is not Constantinople, and the State of Israel is not a crumbling Crusader Empire."
MESSAGE THROUGH THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE
The Israeli minister also referred to the Ottoman Empire in his statement, saying, "Jerusalem has been the capital of the Jewish people for 3,000 years and will forever remain the capital of Israel. The Ottoman Empire that you and Erdoğan dream of has collapsed and will never return."
CRITICISM THROUGH ATATÜRK
In his post, Katz also mentioned Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, criticizing the current administration. The Israeli minister argued that Atatürk worked to modernize Turkey, while claiming that the current government is taking the country backward.
ALSO TAGGED OPPOSITION LEADERS
Katz's tagging of CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, Ekrem İmamoğlu, and Mansur Yavaş in his post also drew attention. While the post sparked widespread reactions on social media, Katz's statements became a topic of debate in Turkish public opinion.