Former U.S. ambassador to Turkey Francis J. Ricciardone said Recep Tayyip Erdoğan genuinely opposes Israel’s treatment of Palestinians, particularly Palestinians in Gaza. Ricciardone said Erdoğan had held these views for a long time.
Speaking on Al Jazeera’s This Is America program, Ricciardone said portraying Israel as an enemy in Turkey or fueling hostility toward Israel would not offer Erdoğan any particular political benefit.
Political value for Netanyahu
The former diplomat suggested that creating the perception that Israel is at war with another side could have political value for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Elections in Israel
Pointing to legislative elections planned in Israel for October, Ricciardone said it would be necessary to see what happens in the elections.