Reaction and warning from AKP, DEM Party says 'taken out of context': 'Netanyahu' tension between the two parties

In the program broadcast on Halk TV, Hatimoğulları said to Israel, "When Erdoğan said, 'Stop occupying Palestine,' Netanyahu said, 'You also stop beating the Kurds, stop having them beaten.' Ultimately, while you are calling for peace, as long as this problem continues in Turkey, it does not have a response."

Reacting to these words by Hatimoğulları, AKP Spokesperson Ömer Çelik said, "While a brand new era has been opened in Parliament with 467 votes in favor, it is deplorable that the DEM Party Co-Chair's initial statements unfairly and baselessly target our party and our government."

Çelik further stated, "We condemn Ms. Hatimoğulları for addressing our opposition to Israel's occupation of Palestine by embracing the words of the genocidal Netanyahu. No politician, while explaining their own thesis, refers to the words of the genocidal Netanyahu by embracing them. Ms. Hatimoğulları must correct this statement. An approach that embraces the words of the genocidal Netanyahu is the most shameful record to be entered into a politician's file." 

"I expressed my positive ideas"

Speaking to the Mezopotamya Agency, Hatimoğulları explained that her words were misunderstood with the following sentences: 

"In the television program I attended yesterday, while discussing the regional reflections of the peace process or the dimension that the process has evolved into with this law in Turkey, I of course expressed my extremely positive ideas about how it would reflect on the region. Now, when we look at these discussions circulating on social media, we can see that there is a serious misunderstanding. We should truly discuss the positive aspects of such an important law that has been passed with a high number of votes in favor in Parliament from every angle. We should discuss how we can carry this process to a more advanced level. Our approach here as the DEM Party is very clear; we have expressed and emphasized at every opportunity that a Turkey that has solved the Kurdish issue through peaceful and democratic methods today can lead regional peace and pioneer regional peace. We are in the same place, we are of the same opinion. As these problems are solved in Turkey today, as steps are taken regarding democratization, as concrete steps are taken regarding the Kurdish issue, let us know that this will also reflect positively on the solution to the Palestinian issue, and will reflect positively on the democratization of the entire region and regional peace. It will enable us to achieve positive results in the region."

"Hatimoğulları's assessments were taken out of context"

DEM Party Spokesperson Ayşegül Doğan also made the following statements on social media regarding the issue:

"The fact that our Co-Chair Ms. Tülay Hatimoğulları's assessments in a television program were taken out of context has created a need to inform the public.

Our party's stance against Israel's occupation and genocide policies in Palestine is clear enough to leave no room for debate. From the parliamentary podium to the squares, we have always stood against genocide and by the side of the Palestinian people. The DEM Party's stance on this issue is of unquestionable clarity.

There is no question of our Co-Chair embracing Netanyahu or referring to his words with her assessments. As long as the Kurdish issue remains unresolved, everyone, including regional and global powers facing Turkey, has unfortunately tried to use this issue. This determination is not an accusation; it is an emphasis on the importance of Turkey's social peace against the genocidal ones themselves. Therefore, the addressee of this determination is not Turkey or President Mr. Erdoğan, but those who hope for a lack of solution.

As always, our side is with the oppressed Palestinian people; against the genocidal ones. This reality cannot be changed by polemics.

Let us state clearly that the new era opened in Parliament with 467 'yes' votes for our joint legislative proposal imposes historical responsibilities on all of us instead of generating tension over words. Polemics that will overshadow the peace longing of 86 million should not be caused.

The DEM Party will resolutely continue its struggle for a democratic Turkey that can be a model for the Middle East by ensuring its internal peace. Our party, with the awareness of this responsibility, will continue to focus on the success of peace, brotherhood, and democratic integration. We believe that all parties should act sensitively for this historical process to be concluded successfully."