Yiğit Bulut, a senior advisor to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has claimed that Israel is planning to attack Turkey, attracting criticism from within the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
Bulut, who serves as both Erdoğan’s chief advisor and a member of the Presidential Economic Policy Board, alleged on social media that Israel would target Turkey after launching strikes against Islamic holy sites, including the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
Sevgili Dostlar,
SAYIN BAŞKANIN BRİCS VURGUSU VE TÜRKİYE CUMHURİYETİNİN BRİCS başvurusu Cumhuriyet tarihimizin en önemli olayı!
TÜRKİYE artık Batı’nın istenmeyen, mültecileri tutan, Amerika’nın içine sindiremediği zoraki müttefiki olmaya devam edemez!
TÜRKİYE KENDİ YOLUNA… https://t.co/omLed5V3Dp
— YİĞİT BULUT (@yigitbulutt) September 24, 2024
The post, shared on X, called for Turkish citizens to wake up to the threat, warning that “it may be time to burn” and suggesting that S-400 missile systems are Turkey’s key defense against a broader Western assault. Bulut emphasized Turkey’s supposed “break from the West,” urging the country to continue down an independent path following its application to join BRICS.
Bulut’s claims were met with skepticism and backlash from within the AKP. Mücahit Birinci, a former member of the party’s Central Executive Board, criticized Bulut’s statement, questioning his qualifications to make such predictions.
“You are not the defense minister, nor are you a party spokesperson,” Birinci said on social media, accusing Bulut of fomenting unnecessary panic. Other AKP figures, including former lawmaker Mehmet Metiner, also voiced concern, calling for a reassessment of advisors in the presidential palace and questioning Bulut’s continued role as a senior aide.
Bulut, who has made several controversial statements in the past, defended his position by sharing a video of a speech by President Erdoğan that denounced Israel’s actions and reaffirmed Turkey’s support for Palestine.
The controversy comes amid heightened tensions between Turkey and Israel, exacerbated by Israel’s military operations in Gaza and Lebanon, and Turkey’s vocal opposition to the strikes.
The tensions have intensified following Erdoğan’s comments in July, which were interpreted as a threat of military intervention in Israel. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz responded by urging NATO to expel Turkey from the alliance.
Erdoğan has repeatedly accused Israel of committing “genocide” in Gaza, while Turkey has suspended trade with Israel until it allows aid to enter the Palestinian territory. The conflict, which began with Hamas’s attack on October 7, has resulted in over 40,000 deaths, according to the Gaza health ministry.
Despite Turkey’s trade ban, data suggests that Turkish businesses have continued to export goods to Israel through Palestine, as evidenced by a significant increase in exports to the Palestinian territories.