Israel’s Foreign Ministry on Saturday sharply rebuked Turkish President Erdoğan after he accused “Zionism” of threatening Turkey’s survival, calling the Turkish leader a “dictator” who persecutes opponents and backs jihadist groups.

In a post on X, the ministry said that the dictator Erdoğan, who “persecutes political opponents, imprisons journalists, massacres Kurds, occupies the territory of Cyprus and backs jihadist groups is now attacking the Middle East’s only democracy,” adding that Israel had “extended its hand in peace to Lebanon just yesterday,” referring to the U.S.-brokered framework of understandings between Beirut and Jerusalem signed in Washington on Friday.

“Erdoğan will pass. Israel will remain forever,” the statement concluded.