The Cabinet convened in Ahlat! A stern warning from President Erdogan to Netanyahu.

25.08.2026 19:50

Speaking after the Cabinet meeting held in the Ahlat district of Bitlis, President Erdogan took aim at Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu without naming him. Reacting harshly to statements targeting Turkey and himself as the election period in Israel approaches, Erdogan said, "We will not allow incompetent, self-important individuals who are politically in their death throes to exploit us for their own gain. Turkey is not a newly emerged state without memory, spoiled by global power centers."

The Presidential Cabinet convened in the Ahlat district of Bitlis under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The meeting at the Ahlat Presidential Complex began at 17:10 and ended at 19:00.

Following the meeting, President Erdogan, appearing before the cameras, devoted considerable time in his speech to the Terror-Free Turkey process as well as to the impertinent posts by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu targeting Turkey.  

Highlights from Erdogan's remarks are as follows:

"We are filled with the excitement of being in the spiritual presence of our dear martyrs on the 955th anniversary of the glorious victory that opened the gates of Anatolia. At the very beginning of my words, I commemorate with mercy our elders who were honored with martyrdom and veteranship on this very land for the sake of religion, the state, the homeland, and the cause of exalting the word of God. Following in the footsteps of the warriors of Manzikert, from the first conquests to our War of Independence, from the fight against terrorism to the July 15 resistance, I pray to God for mercy for all our heroes who deemed Turkey dearer than their own lives and brought our nation to these days with their blood and souls.

Together with Sultan Alparslan, after writing an epic at Manzikert, I remember with gratitude the orders, lords, and braves of that great commander who cooled their swords in the cool waters of the Eastern Mediterranean, the Aegean, and the Black Sea. As in previous years, I thank the people of Ahlat who embraced me, our cabinet, and our delegation with affection. I also heartily congratulate our Okcular Foundation for bringing our youth from all over Turkey together in this ocean of history.

As Ahlat, visited by Ottoman sultans as the ancestral city, is understood in its place and importance in our history, our nation's interest in Ahlat and Manzikert is increasing exponentially. We are making every investment to bring Ahlat to the position it deserves and personally follow up on Ahlat's needs. Not only our Malazgirt Victory celebrations but also our Cabinet meetings have now become traditional. As the Presidential Cabinet, we gathered in Ahlat for the third time today. In our meeting, we consulted on critical topics concerning our country, primarily foreign policy, trade, security, and our Terror-Free Turkey process.

"WE CONTINUE TO ADHERE TO OUR GOALS"

I want to underline one point here first. As a government, despite the conflicts around us, we are making intense efforts to keep Turkey on its development and prosperity path. Although the crises in our region affect us economically as they do the whole world, we continue to adhere to our goals in many areas, from employment to exports, from agriculture to tourism.

I want my citizens to know this: We are striving to successfully manage this painful period, which we are experiencing almost as a storm of crises, in a dynamic process without resorting to populism, by carefully protecting the resources of the nation and the country. Keeping the wheels of the economy turning, preserving our people's jobs and livelihoods, minimizing the effects of fluctuations in commodity prices, and evaluating emerging opportunities, especially in the defense industry and international investments, continue to be our priority. As the shockwave caused by the Iran-America tension in the global economy loses its effect over time, we will, God willing, have the opportunity to see its reflections on the streets, markets, and daily life much more clearly.

"TURKEY IS SAFE"

Its direction is clear, and it will eventually reach its destination. In this long journey, Turkey's greatest asset is that experienced, competent, harmonious, and dedicated teams are on duty. Turkey is safe. The trust of 86 million is secure in capable hands. We will never allow any shadow to fall on this sacred trust. We will advance towards our goals together without slowing down, without complacency, and without abandoning caution and discipline.

Dear guests, dear citizens, last week, our Grand National Assembly displayed a historic example of consensus by passing a law of vital importance for Turkey with 467 yes votes. I once again extend my gratitude to all our members of parliament who supported the law on strengthening national solidarity and social integration, on behalf of my country and my nation.

A TURNING POINT IN TURKISH POLITICS

With this great compromise, which is a turning point in Turkish politics, our Terror-Free Turkey process has been renewed in confidence and has gained serious strength. Our nation has very clearly demonstrated its will for a solution through its representatives. Political parties representing different segments of society coming together on a common ground regarding a matter concerning our country's future is beyond any appreciation.

This consensus will also strengthen our democracy, increase the capacity of civil politics, and pave the way for courageously taking new steps to rid Turkey of the remnants of the tutelage period. It is a fact that no problem in Turkey is unsolvable. When acting with an understanding that centers on the country and the nation instead of daily political calculations, Turkish democracy has more than enough capacity and maturity to solve any knot.

"WE ARE DETERMINED TO LEAVE A TERROR-FREE COUNTRY AND REGION TO FUTURE GENERATIONS"

I must also draw your attention to this point. While we have easily crossed many critical thresholds in the last two years, there is still a path ahead that needs to be walked and managed carefully. It is of great importance that everyone uses a much more careful language in this process, focuses on taking on burdens rather than being one, and avoids rash rhetoric and actions that might miss our nation's sensitivities.

Politics is done every day, but there is no excuse for casting a shadow on the effort to save Turkey from a half-century problem. The same applies to our media organizations and journalists. No one has the right to infect such a vital issue just for more views, ratings, and interaction. Because this is not just our issue as this government and alliance. This is a state matter. It is the common issue of 86 million. Our nation now wants this issue to be resolved permanently. We are also extremely determined to solve this problem and leave a terror-free country and region to future generations.

Today, I once again call on everyone, regardless of their political views, to be part of the solution. Come, let us save Turkey from terrorism and duly repay our debt of gratitude to our martyrs and veterans. Come, let you also grab one end and lift this weight off Turkey together. Come, let us further strengthen the brotherhood of our people who have knelt and sat at the same table throughout history, sung the same song together, and fallen as martyrs on the same front to defend the homeland. This sincere call belongs to everyone who has the understanding of the nation first, the homeland first. Let us not lay our young saplings, who say Turkey should no longer pay a price, to the ground with tears."

"THOSE WHO ATTEMPT TO SABOTAGE THE PROCESS WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE BEFORE HISTORY"

I expect greater contributions from civil society organizations and opinion leaders in the region. I would like to remind that in these days when we are experiencing a milestone, everyone who contributes to the process will have a role in the reconstruction of history. Likewise, any initiative that complicates the process, sabotages it, provokes, or stands against it will be held accountable before history. I hope that those in positions of responsibility, especially some parties that engage in day-to-day politics, will read well the will embodied by 467 votes in Parliament and draw the necessary message from it.

Dear guests, in addition to our vision of a Terrorism-Free Turkey and a terrorism-free region, it is evident that the active foreign policy of our country, which prioritizes regional peace and stability, disturbs certain circles that thrive on instability and chaos. As Turkey, along with its own citizens and without any discrimination, wants peace and development for everyone in its region, the plans of murder networks built on blood and conflict are being disrupted. We regard the dirty campaigns recently targeting us personally as President and Turkey as manifestations of the petulance and desperation caused by these completely disrupted plans.

I want to say this clearly once here. We will not allow politically moribund, arrogant, dissolute individuals to exploit our platform for their rhetoric. We know very well to whom, what, where, and how to speak. I always emphasize this. We are not running a grocery store; we are governing Turkey, one of the world's largest countries. Along with the trust of our 86 million citizens, we also carry the hope and responsibility of hundreds of millions of oppressed people around the world. The Republic of Turkey is not a newfangled state established by someone's favor, spoiled by global power centers, and lacking memory.

"WE ARE A GREAT STATE KNOWN IN HISTORY FOR CONQUERING HEARTS"

We are a great state with our contributions to art history, politics, and administration history. We are a great state known in history for conquering hearts, heeding the call of the oppressed, and rushing to aid those in need, be they Jewish, Christian, or Muslim. The Republic of Turkey is by no means an ordinary state that will bow to petty calculations and petty cunning or give them credence. We act in domestic politics and foreign policy as a dignified, proud state, honored by its history and ancestors, should. We are, of course, aware of what everyone is trying to do. We see what bloody scenarios are being written for our region. With Allah's permission, we will not allow them to be realized. Let everyone be assured and at ease. The Republic of Turkey will not compromise on its principles or national interests. We will not leave any friend or brother who trusts us halfway. We will not refrain from struggling to establish peace in our region just because some do not want it, some are anxious, or some's plans are disrupted. Nor will we give up supporting the recovery of our neighbors just because murder networks with innocent blood on their hands are disturbed. Only the Turkish nation determines this country's foreign policy. No actor other than the nation can draw a route or boundary for Turkey and Turkish foreign policy.

"AS TURKEY, WE HAVE NO AIM BEYOND PEACE AND TRANQUILITY"

I want to state this fact once again today. As Turkey, we have no aim, goal, or purpose beyond peace, justice, stability, and tranquility across our entire region. We have no hidden agenda or hidden intention, as some claim. Our aim is for a climate of peace to prevail around us. Our goal is to establish justice, security, and prosperity in every inch of our region. Our geography now needs peace like water and air. It yearns for the days when it will achieve this. As the Republic of Turkey, we say that from Syria to Iraq, from Lebanon to Palestine, from the Gulf to Africa, from the Balkans to the Caucasus, history has made us brothers across our entire cultural and spiritual geography. We are struggling to elevate this eternal brotherhood. Inshallah, we will continue to work with all our might wherever our hand reaches until this struggle is crowned with victory. I say may Allah keep our path and fortune open. With these thoughts, I convey my thanks to our martyr families and you, dear guests, who honored our address after the cabinet meeting.

Details are coming.