US strongly condemns Turkey hosting Hamas leaders
RAMALLAH, Palestine (North Press) – A source in the Israeli Institute for National Security Studies said on Sunday that the meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and leaders of the Hamas movement is a good opportunity for US President Donald Trump to accuse Turkey of dealing with terrorists.
The source added that it was a very good opportunity for current White House management to court American Jewish votes in the next election.
The meeting, held a week ago in Istanbul with the head of the Hamas Political Bureau Ismail Haniyeh and two other officials, sparked an angry American reaction to Turkey.
The US strongly objected to Turkish President Erdogan hosting the Hamas leaders in Istanbul on August 22.
The US Department of State stated on August 25 that Hamas is designated as a terrorist organization by the US and EU, and both officials hosted by President Erdogan are Specially Designated Global Terrorists.
“The US Rewards for Justice Program is seeking information about one of the individuals for his involvement in multiple terrorist attacks, hijackings, and kidnappings,” the State Department said.
The statement added that President Erdogan’s continued outreach to this terrorist organization only serves to isolate Turkey from the international community, harms the interests of the Palestinian people, and undercuts global efforts to prevent terrorist attacks launched from Gaza.
“We continue to raise our concerns about the Turkish government’s relationship with Hamas at the highest levels.”
This is the second time President Erdogan has welcomed Hamas leadership to Turkey this year, with the first meeting occurring on February 1 between President Erdogan and Hamas leadership in Istanbul.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry announced its rejection of the American position.
Despite Turkish secrecy, an Israeli diplomat announced that Ankara had granted passports to about 12 members of Hamas after meeting Erdogan and Haniyeh.
Israel considers Erdogan’s intransigence and insistence on exporting terrorism something that puts him in the crosshairs of international anger, threatening to isolate his country.
The Israeli Institute for National Security Studies said that Turkey is now facing great challenges, including Russia from the north and in Syria, the overwhelming Arab rejection of Turkey, and its rejection from Europe despite its membership in NATO.
A source from the institute revealed a new Republican-led US strategy, which is to weaken Turkey because it has adopted a Muslim Brotherhood ideology, which has weakened the military establishment, amended its constitution, and retracted its democratic advantage.
Israeli researcher Mordechai Kedar said in an interview with North Press that Turkey was trying to win over Islamic currents in Arab regions in general and the Palestinian territories in particular, which Donald Trump may be able to exploit for his own interests.
“Ankara finds in Hamas rich material for maneuver in order to achieve possible accomplishments if certain trade-offs are made in the event that the dispute with America and Israel deepens,” Kedar said.
An investigation by the Israel Security Agency in February 2018 revealed that the Hamas office in Turkey was involved in military activities.
Accordingly, Turkey opens the way for the Palestinian movement to carry out its activities. The movement is also laundering money on a large scale in Turkey, and Turkish authorities turn a blind eye to activities that provide the movement with support that enables it to plan to target the security of the region.
A political source from Hamas denied reports that Turkey is allowing the movement’s activity on its territory.
“Turkey has asked deputy head of Hamas Political Bureau Saleh al-Arouri to leave Turkey after he was accused by Israel of being related to military operations in the West Bank,” the source said.
“Ankara is also tightening the screws on the movement’s financial dealings.”
The source did admit that Hamas still has a good relationship with Turkey. However, it remains limited, and not to the point of Turkish support for the movement’s military or financial activities on its territory.