Palestine rift in the New Welfare Party

12punto.com.tr - Ercan KÜÇÜK

Israel's attacks on Palestine following the Hamas attacks have sparked reactions across Turkey. While some segments have launched boycott campaigns against Israeli-origin companies, rallies have also been held. Israel's attacks have triggered internal party debates within the New Welfare Party (Yeniden Refah Partisi). The reactions have been directed at Deputy Chairman Prof. Dr. Doğan Aydal.

Hüseyin Terzi, one of the founders of the New Welfare Party and former Istanbul Provincial Chairman, targeted Deputy Chairman Aydal in a post on his social media account. Terzi wrote that Aydal remained silent on Israel's attacks and had visited Israel before the October 7 attacks. Terzi also alleged that in a speech Aydal gave at the Istanbul Provincial Council meeting held in Istanbul on November 5, he characterized Hamas as a structure that collaborates with Israeli intelligence. In his post, Terzi also argued that Aydal had previously made pro-Israel statements.

Looking at Aydal's social media account, it is seen that the only post he has made regarding Palestine since October 7 is from the Free Palestine Rally held in Konya on October 14. Intra-party dissidents note that in this post, Aydal used the phrase "Free Jerusalem" instead of "Free Palestine."

ERBAKAN DEFENDS HAMAS

New Welfare Party Chairman Fatih Erbakan had responded harshly to the words of IYI Party Chair Meral Akşener, who said "Hamas and Israeli terror are the same thing" at her party's parliamentary group meeting last week. Erbakan said the following regarding Hamas: "Equating Hamas, which is trying to save the honor of the Ummah, with the murderous Zionist regime is a mental blackout. We see this blackout of conscience and reason even in some very important names in the opposition. Stick the needle into yourself and the needle into others. It is easy to pass judgment from a thousand kilometers away, from your comfortable spaces. Who knows what you would do if one-tenth of the oppression inflicted on the Palestinian people for 75 years were inflicted on you?"

News Source: Ercan Küçük