According to Times of Israel, Israel Foreign Minister Israel Katz has sharply rebuked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for vowing to block NATO's cooperation with Israel, stating bluntly: "You decide nothing."
Erdogan had declared at a NATO summit news conference that "until comprehensive, sustainable peace is established in Palestine, attempts at cooperation with Israel within NATO will not be approved by Turkey."
In response, Katz took to social media, saying: "First of all, Erdogan, you decide nothing." He went on to criticize Turkey's support for Hamas and the "Iranian axis of evil," stating that "a country like Turkey... should not be a member of NATO."
Israel is a partner of NATO, while Turkey has previously used its veto power within the military alliance to obstruct closer ties between the organization and the Jewish state.
Katz's forceful rebuke underscores the ongoing tensions between Israel and Turkey, as the latter continues to align itself with Israel's regional adversaries. The dispute also highlights the broader geopolitical dynamics within NATO, where member states often clash over policy towards the Middle East.