Trump’s friendship with Erdogan ignores Turkey’s hosting of Hamas - opinion

US President Donald Trump considers Hamas to be the world’s enemy, referring to them as “terrorists” and “killers,” explicitly condemning their violent acts, attacks on civilians, and the holding of hostages.

So why does he call their host a friend, praising him as a strong leader whom he respects and a “fantastic guy?”

While Trump may secretly recognize the real danger of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, knowing that this loose cannon could wreak havoc on the Middle East if he so desired, his high esteem takes the expression, “keep your friends close and your enemies closer,” to a whole new level.

Because it’s one thing to pretend to like the man, but why lavish him with such admirable qualities when it’s clear to most people that Erdogan is an authoritarian despot who has been accused of forcibly seizing power in his own country by rigging elections in his favor?

If Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent assertion during his speech at the UN General Assembly, claiming that “Turkey is one of several nations, financing information against Israel and spreading antisemitism, while hosting Hamas terror chiefs” is true, then why would Trump’s perception of the man, when describing him in public, reflect such a completely different character, making him sound trustworthy, helpful, and even honorable?

Is it possible that Trump’s desire to build a good rapport with the Turkish leader has colored his ability to see the man for who he really is? Does Trump’s desire to be seen as a peacemaker extend to a ruler who jails journalists and political opponents, provides a safe haven for Islamic radicals, and permits honor killings of Turkish women to continue?

With charges of financial corruption, it is said that “Erdogan’s closest associates control large portions of the construction, energy, communications, financial services, and media sectors. This system of kleptocracy ensures that the best business opportunities go to the most loyal members of Erdogan’s party, or those with familial connections, and that any illegal activity or tax evasion goes unreported and unpunished.”

Accusations of bribery are rampant, with transparency and accountability nowhere to be found. So, where’s the commonality with a democratically-run superpower that prides itself on following the rule of law and seeking to ensure less intrusive government involvement in the lives of its citizens?

Maybe Trump is enamored by the flattery that he’s received from the Turkish leader, who knows just how important it is for the American president to hear how wonderful his efforts are in trying to broker peace in the Middle East.

Or does it have something to do with his NATO ties? Turkey has become adept at positioning itself as a major diplomatic mediator, whose influence has led to key security initiatives, including the use of NATO forces to undertake specific projects. That is not surprising, considering that Turkey maintains the second-largest military in all of NATO.

And while Erdogan may be doing his best to insert himself into world events, it’s hard to ignore the fact that he is closely aligned with the greatest enemies of Israel and Western civilization.

Those include Russia, Qatar, Venezuela, and Iran. Each of their leaders has cozied up to Erdogan, which was not difficult considering their many shared interests, such as the religion of Islam, geopolitical common goals, and a strong dislike of Israel.

Given America’s completely different value system, isn’t it odd that Trump would not see Turkey as being antithetical to all of his own political aspirations?

After all, how can hosting Hamas be seen as a positive on any level? When Turkey continues to classify the terrorists as “liberators or resistance fighters defending their land,” where does Trump find common ground with such a preposterous perspective?

Who is playing whom?

While Turkey may be doing its best to pull off a balancing act of appearing to be pro-Western, due to its strong dependence upon European trade, investment, and supply chains for its industry, there’s no ignoring the anti-West policies that are so obvious to the casual observer.

Between its authoritarian rule, eroding all forms of democracy, including its judiciary, and its well-known suppression of civil liberties, as well as monetary corruption to the point of money-laundering accusations, there is almost no resemblance between Turkey and its Western counterparts.

All this makes the average person wonder whether Trump is playing Erdogan or vice versa, because this is not a natural affinity based on mutually shared values and ethics.

Described as a “transactional, multipolar actor, hedging policy directly undermining Western strategic cohesion,” one can only conclude that Turkey is feigning friendship and goodwill for the sake of appearance, hoping that it can gain an advantageous position in its long-range quest for world influence.

Is it really wise, then, for Trump to vocally consider Erdogan a friend, a fantastic guy, and a strong leader, when there’s a strong likelihood that, at some point, the Turkish leader will show his true colors? How will Trump moderate his warm sentiments when that happens?

On many levels, it seems as if Trump is playing a dangerous game by falsely attributing good character to someone who obviously has malevolent future aspirations that will also benefit evil regimes and their associates.

If Trump is serious about forging real peace in the Middle East, he should distance himself from anyone who would represent a barbaric terror organization as liberators who are merely seeking to right an injustice.

Because such a characterization is not only a monstrous fabrication, but it promotes and advances a twisted and perverse distortion of history, which is then responsible for fomenting anti-Jewish and anti-Israel sentiment, turning bloodthirsty murderers into righteous actors.

No honest and forthright leader who truly hopes to effect a true and lasting peace can afford to turn a blind eye to such duplicitous dealings, no matter how hard he wants to maintain good relations with everyone.

At some point, there must be a genuine and forthright acknowledgement of good and evil as well as the admission that terrorism has no place in civilized societies.

While diplomacy can be a wonderful tool in advancing peace, it should never be used as an excuse to call evil good or vice versa, as in the case of Trump insisting that Erdogan is a friend! 

The writer, a former principal of Jerusalem elementary and middle schools, was a member of Kibbutz Re’im from 1994 to 1999. She is the author of Mistake-Proof Parenting, based on the time-tested wisdom found in the Book of Proverbs, available on Amazon.