INTERNACIONAL
Echoing Hamas, Erdogan reportedly calls for Israel’s destruction amid push to rekindle ties with Trump
Turkish police pepper spray protesters in Istanbul
Police officers seen pepper spraying protesters as people gathered in support of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu near the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality building, in Istanbul, Turkey, March 23, 2025. (Credit: Reuters)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reportedly called for the destruction of Israel during Eid al-Fitr prayers at the Çamlıca Mosque in Istanbul on Sunday.
The Jerusalem Post reported that Erdoğan said «May Allah, for the sake of his name ‘Al-Qahhar,’ destroy and devastate Zionist Israel.» His call for the annihilation of the Jewish state has drawn fierce condemnation, particularly from Israeli officials.
In response to his remarks, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar stated on X, «The dictator Erdogan revealed his antisemitic face,» adding that «Erdogan is dangerous to the region, as well as to his own people, as has been proven in recent days,» Sa’ar referred to the widespread protests in Turkey and added, «Let’s hope NATO members understand how dangerous he is, and not before it’s too late.»
Following his comments, Turkey’s foreign ministry issued a statement that read, in part, «We categorically reject the outrageous statement made by the Foreign Minister of the Netanyahu government.
TURKEY’S ERDOGAN CONTINUES CRACKDOWN ON PROTESTERS FOLLOWING ARREST OF MAIN RIVAL ON CORRUPTION CHARGES
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan speaks to the attendees during a rally to show their solidarity with the Palestinians, in Istanbul on Saturday, Oct. 28. (AP/Emrah Gurel)
«These disrespectful and baseless allegations are part of an effort to cover up the crimes committed by Netanyahu and his associates,» adding, «We will continue to stand by the innocent civilians targeted by Israel and to defend their rights.»
In a social media post, Israel’s foreign ministry demanded clarity on whether Erdoğan denies his antisemitic views, emphasizing the president’s problematic actions both domestically and internationally.
«What bothered the Turkish Foreign Ministry? Here’s a way to clarify the dictator’s words: Clearly state that Erdogan is not an antisemite, that he is not an obsessive hater of the Jewish state.»
The post underscores the growing concern over Erdoğan’s intentions toward Israel.
The tensions between Turkey and Israel go beyond Erdoğan’s support for Hamas, although that remains a central issue. Hamas, which carried out the brutal massacre of more than 1,200 Israelis on October 7, 2023, has long had Turkish backing. Erdoğan’s refusal to denounce Hamas, describing them as a legitimate political party, has angered Israel and much of the international community.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, right, with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in March 2022.
The diplomatic relationship between Turkey and the U.S. has also been under scrutiny. While Turkey’s domestic actions, like cracking down on political opponents, including the arrest of Istanbul’s mayor Ekrem İmamoglu, have sparked unprecedented protests, U.S. officials are attempting to stabilize relations. On March 26, Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, discussing Turkey’s potential support for a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire and other geopolitical issues, despite recent internal turmoil.
«Turkey’s strongman Recep Tayyip Erdogan is facing the worst domestic political crisis of his career. The streets are flooded now with protesters who are outraged over the arrest of opposition leader Ekrem Imamoglu, restrictions on the internet, and other authoritarian maneuvers,» Jonathan Schanzer, executive director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital.
TRUMP UNIQUELY PLACED TO ‘WHISPER’ IN ERDOGAN’S EAR OVER TURKISH REGIONAL AMBITIONS: GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER
People chant slogans as they protest the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu in Istanbul on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
«To deflect, Erdogan has engaged in blistering rhetoric against Israel. This comes amidst Erdoğan’s unflinching financial and political support for Hamas since the October 7 war erupted, not to mention Erdoğan’s support for the al-Qaeda government in Syria, which also poses a threat to Israel,» Schanzer said.
The tensions between Turkey and Israel are not limited to Hamas support. Erdoğan’s actions in Syria, where Turkey has backed Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, who overthrew the Assad regime and gained control over parts of the country, have further strained relations with Israel, leading to growing concerns over Ankara’s role in fostering instability on Israel’s borders.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, center, meets with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, left, and the former Hamas terror chief Ismail Haniyeh at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Turkiye, on July 26, 2023. ( Mustafa Kamaci/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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Before Erdoğan’s most recent threats against Israel, Trump administration officials had indicated that they may lift restrictions on defense contracts with Turkey, including the potential reinstatement of Turkey’s F-35 program participation. This comes after a phone call between Presidents Trump and Erdoğan on March 21, which may pave the way for a change in policy that could potentially allow the sale of the F-35s to Ankara.
As a NATO member, Turkey plays a pivotal role in the alliance’s security framework.
INTERNACIONAL
Decision to remove West Point crest from chapel Bibles reversed by secretary of the Army
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EXCLUSIVE: The secretary of the Army has ordered the U.S. Military Academy at West Point to restore the school’s crest on the Bibles at the West Point Cadet Chapel, reversing a Biden-era decision to not include the crest when replacing the Bibles.
«Since the founding of West Point and before, generations of cadets, officers, and Soldiers have drawn strength and inspiration from God’s word,» Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll said in a Friday statement to Fox News Digital. «The decision to remove the Academy’s historic crest from the Bibles in the Cadet Chapel is yet another example of the previous administration pushing far-left politics into our military institutions. I am directing West Point to reverse this decision immediately and restore this important symbol of Duty, Honor, Country.»
WEST POINT BIBLE CREST CONTROVERSY SPURS PENTAGON LAWSUIT FROM CONSERVATIVE WATCHDOG
The Class of 2026 unveiled its crest during Plebe-Parent Weekend in March 2023. (U.S. Army)
Driscoll’s statement comes after Fox News Digital first reported that a conservative judicial and government watchdog group had filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit Tuesday against the Department of Defense over documents regarding why the crest was absent from the new Bibles.
A spokesperson for West Point declined to provide comment to Fox News Digital on Friday.
Judicial Watch first submitted a FOIA request in December 2024 seeking records related to the Bibles, after the MacArthur Society, a group for West Point graduates concerned about potential politicization at the military academy, notified them of the removal of the crest from the Bibles.
WEST POINT DECISION TO CUT ‘DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY’ FROM MISSION STATEMENT UNDER FIRE AGAIN’
Daniel Driscoll, President Donald Trump’s nominee to be the Department of Defense’s Secretary of the Army, testifies before a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on his nomination on Capitol Hill on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) (AP)
When asked for comment about the new Bibles, a spokesperson for West Point told Fox News Digital that the chapel’s Bibles now feature the name of the military academy.
«The bibles purchased for the West Point Cadet Chapel are emblazoned with ‘The United States Miliary Academy, West Point, New York,’» the spokesperson said in a statement to Fox News Digital Wednesday.
Judicial Watch filed the original FOIA request to learn more about the decision, due to concerns that the military academy is seeking to eliminate ties with what the group labels «traditional values.»
But after receiving no response for the documents, Judicial Watch filed a lawsuit against the Department of Defense for the documents Tuesday.
«Judicial Watch’s heavy lifting gets results,» Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said in a Friday statement to Fox News Digital. «Goes to show again how our lawsuits exposing corruption can fix corruption. The US Army and West Point can’t go wrong in honoring God.»
HEGSETH QUIPS ‘99.9%’ OF DEI INITIATIVES ARE GONE FROM THE MILITARY UNDER TRUMP’S WATCH
The graduating class of the United States Military Academy arrive for their graduation ceremony at West Point in Michie Stadium on May 24, 2025, in West Point, New York.
The Pentagon told Fox News Digital that it does not comment on pending litigation.
Combining religious content or symbols with military material has faced backlash historically.
In 2012, all four branches of the military pulled approval for a military series of Holman Christian Standard Bibles that had been sold in military exchanges amid concerns that the series indicated that the Bible served as the official religious text of the military services, according to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation.
The West Point crest has undergone several iterations but historically has included an eagle above the school’s mascot, the Black Knights.
West Point is one of several U.S. military academies that train students to become military officers.
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The U.S. and Israel announced on Friday that their respective forces had killed terror leaders from ISIS and Hezbollah in separate counterterrorism operations.
CENTCOM troops carried out a raid in al-Bab, Aleppo Governorate, Syria, and killed senior ISIS leader Dhiya’ Zawba Muslih al-Hardani and his two adult sons, who also have ties to the terror organization, according to a statement from CENTCOM.
It added that three women and three children who «were also on the target» were unharmed in the raid.
«These ISIS individuals posed a threat to U.S. and Coalition Forces, as well as the new Syrian Government,» CENTCOM said in a statement.
A masked Islamic State terrorist poses holding the ISIS flag in 2015. (History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
CENTCOM ELIMINATES ISIS PLOTTER RESPONSIBLE FOR THREATENING US CITIZENS, PARTNERS AND CIVILIANS
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a U.K.-based organization, said the raid was the first of its kind. The group also stated that ground troops of SDF-backed special units and Damascus special forces participated in the operation, though Fox News Digital was unable to confirm their involvement.
Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, CENTCOM commander, vowed U.S. forces would «relentlessly pursue ISIS terrorists.»
«ISIS terrorists are not safe where they sleep, where they operate and where they hide,» Kurilla said in a statement. «Alongside our partners and allies, U.S. Central Command is committed to the enduring defeat of ISIS terrorists that threaten the region, our allies and our homeland.»
U.S. forces patrol in the vicinity of the Hori rehabilitation center for children of the suspected Islamic State group in the town of Tel Maaruf in Syria’s northeastern Hasakeh province Dec. 15, 2022. (Delil Souleiman/AFP via Getty Images)
IDF KILLS KEY HAMAS FOUNDER AND MASTERMIND OF OCT 7 TERROR ATTACK IN ISRAEL
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced its troops had killed Ali Mohammad Hassan Qoutan, who served as the personnel officer for Hezbollah’s Bint Jbeil sector. According to the IDF, Qoutan was involved in efforts to rebuild the organization, which was dealt a blow when Israel killed its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in September 2024.
Mourners attend the funeral of slain Hezbollah leaders Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine at the Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium on the outskirts of Beirut Feb. 23, 2025. (Anwar Amro/AFP via Getty Images)
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«The terrorist’s activities constitute a blatant violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon,» the IDF wrote in a statement.
Israel recently concluded a 12-day war with Iran while simultaneously fighting Hamas in Gaza in a war that has been ongoing since the brutal attacks of Oct. 7, 2023.
¿Qué significa en la práctica?
Importancia simbólica y diplomática
Francia,Palestina,Israel
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