Will Erdogan’s Jerusalem campaign succeed?
Erdogan’s supporters are among those who fear his vociferous campaign against the United States and Israel will leave him disappointed and regionally isolated.
US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel appears, at first glance, to have provided President Recep Tayyip Erdogan a new opportunity to play for leadership in the Islamic world while deflecting attention from his troubles at home.
Analysts believe, however, that the lack of support among Arab powers for the vehemence with which he is pursuing the campaign against the United States and Israel is likely to leave him disappointed in the end.
Nevertheless, Erdogan is gaining populist points, not just in Turkey, but also in the Middle East where his strong line on Jerusalem is praised and contrasted with the limp response from Arab regimes.
Addressing supporters in the central Anatolian city of Sivas on Dec. 10, Erdogan pointed to Security Council Resolution 478 adopted in 1980, which condemned Israel for declaring Jerusalem its capital, and went on to attack Trump.
