Former US ambassador to Turkey Francis J. Ricciardone said there was no particular political value for Turkey in fueling hostility toward Israel.
Speaking on Al Jazeera’s "This Is America" program, Ricciardone said he believed Recep Tayyip Erdoğan would gain no particular political benefit in Turkey from portraying Israel as an enemy or fueling hostility toward Israel.
Erdoğan’s stance on Gaza
Ricciardone said Erdoğan genuinely disliked or opposed Israel’s treatment of Palestinians, particularly Palestinians in Gaza. The former diplomat said Erdoğan had held these views for a long time.
Netanyahu and the election assessment
Ricciardone suggested that creating the perception that Israel was at war with another side could have political value for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Referring to the legislative elections planned for October in Israel, Ricciardone said it remained to be seen what would happen in the elections.