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Erdogan's "Zionism" Comments Isolate Him and His Country
(Center for American Progress) Matthew Duss and Michael Werz - Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan recently grouped Zionism with anti-Semitism, fascism, and Islamophobia as "crimes against humanity." Casting Zionism in this way is not only deeply offensive but also quite historically inaccurate and has the potential to promote or justify violence. Modern Zionism is the national movement of the Jewish people. Developed in response to centuries of anti-Semitism in Europe, it holds that Jews represent a national group and are thus deserving of self-determination in a state of their own. By declaring Zionism a "crime against humanity," Erdogan implies that it should meet resistance appropriate to such a grave crime - namely, force. It is in both Turkey's and the U.S.' interest to heal tensions between Israel and Turkey. Prime Minister Erdogan's incendiary remarks make that more difficult and act against Turkey's long-term national interest. Matthew Duss is Director of Middle East Progress at the Center for American Progress, where Michael Werz is a Senior Fellow.