Florida Congressmen Condemn Turkish PM Comparing Israel to Hitler

Earlier this month, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said Israel has "surpassed Hitler in barbarism" with its actions in Gaza.

"(Israelis) have no conscience, no honour, no pride, Erdogan said. Those who condemn Hitler day and night have surpassed Hitler in barbarism.

While Erdogan said Turks should not engage in anti-Semitic activities, two congressmen from Florida -- U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., and U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla. -- condemned the remarks. The two congressmen co-chair the Congressional Hellenic Israel Alliance.

The outrageous rhetoric being attributed to Prime Minister Erdogan in his recent public speeches and interviews is par for the course, Bilirakis said. Accusing the state of Israel of engaging in systematic genocide and calling the country a terror state is not only wildly inaccurate, but laughable coming from a leader who has exhibited hostility to the rule of law by depriving his own citizens basic human rights such as freedom of religion, freedom of expression, and freedom of speech. Israel has endured rocket fire for years yet has shown extraordinary restraint in the face of the existential threats it faces on a daily basis. Still yet, Hamas has refused cease-fire agreements and has continued to attack Israel and her civilians while Erdogans inflammatory rhetoric stokes the fires of war. It is shameful and it should be condemned.

Prime Minister Erdogans accusation that Israel is committing war crimes worse than Hitlers Nazi regime is despicable and is a disgraceful affront to the memory of the 6 million people who perished in the Holocaust, Deutch said. It is Hamas, not Israel, that is refusing to accept a cease-fire and choosing to continue firing rockets indiscriminately at innocent Israelis. It is Hamas, not Israel, that is deliberately using ordinary Palestinians as human shields for their rockets while its terror leaders flee to fortified bunkers. If the prime minister wishes to speak out against violations of international law, he should call on Hamas to accept a cease-fire and recognize Israels right to exist, instead of drawing despicable comparisons to the systematic slaughter of millions during the Holocaust.