Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan used exceptionally harsh words to describe Israel's offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Speaking in Antalya following his Middle Eastern tour, Erdogan said Israel was perpetrating "inhumane actions" which would "lead to its destruction."
"Allah will sooner or later punish those who transgress the rights of innocents," Erdogan said. His recent tour of the Middle East conspicuously skipped Israel despite the bilateral ties both countries enjoy.
Erdogan has over the past week visited Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia as Turkey engaged in shuttle diplomacy with Arab countries in the search for a Gaza cease-fire.
The Turkish leader has made extremely critical comments about Operation Cast Lead since it began, and last Saturday characterized Israel's aerial attacks in Gaza as a "crime against humanity." In addition, he said the operation, which began four days after a visit to Ankara by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, was a sign of disrespect to Turkey.
Israel has expressed its reservations to the Turks over these comments, with officials in Jerusalem saying it was not the way friendly countries talked about one another.
One government source called Erdogan's statements "emotional." Another official said the comments were also intended to mollify a public that was horrified by the televised images from Gaza.
Still, the overall assessment in Jerusalem is that the operation and the tenor of Erdogan's criticism will not have a lasting impact on Turkish-Israel relations, since strong ties are in the interest of both countries.
Source: JPOST
Speaking in Antalya following his Middle Eastern tour, Erdogan said Israel was perpetrating "inhumane actions" which would "lead to its destruction."
"Allah will sooner or later punish those who transgress the rights of innocents," Erdogan said. His recent tour of the Middle East conspicuously skipped Israel despite the bilateral ties both countries enjoy.
Erdogan has over the past week visited Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia as Turkey engaged in shuttle diplomacy with Arab countries in the search for a Gaza cease-fire.The Turkish leader has made extremely critical comments about Operation Cast Lead since it began, and last Saturday characterized Israel's aerial attacks in Gaza as a "crime against humanity." In addition, he said the operation, which began four days after a visit to Ankara by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, was a sign of disrespect to Turkey.
Israel has expressed its reservations to the Turks over these comments, with officials in Jerusalem saying it was not the way friendly countries talked about one another.
One government source called Erdogan's statements "emotional." Another official said the comments were also intended to mollify a public that was horrified by the televised images from Gaza.
Still, the overall assessment in Jerusalem is that the operation and the tenor of Erdogan's criticism will not have a lasting impact on Turkish-Israel relations, since strong ties are in the interest of both countries.
Source: JPOST
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