The prime ministers of Turkey and Lebanon on Monday lashed out at Israeli violations of Lebanese airspace and air strikes in Gaza, warning they were undermining prospects for peace in the region. "Attacks on Lebanon is terrorism itself... We have to stand shoulder by shoulder against the enemy's plans... We have to stop Israel," visiting Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri told a press conference.
Lebanese anti-aircraft guns opened fire on four Israeli warplanes which were violating its airspace at low altitude on Monday, the military said. Israel argues that the overflights are necessary to monitor what it says is massive arms smuggling by Hezbollah.
Hariri's counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose country's once-flourishing ties with Israel took a sharp downturn last year, said that Turkey "will never stay silent" on Israeli violations of Lebanese airspace. He slammed the Israeli overflights as "unacceptable action that threatens global peace."
Erdogan also questioned a deadly Israeli air raid on the Gaza Strip Sunday, which, the Israeli army said, targeted militants who were preparing attacks. "Is the Israeli government in favour of peace or not?... Gaza was bombed again yesterday. Why?... There were no rocket attacks," Erdogan said.
"They (the Israelis) have disproportional capabilities and power and they use them... They do not abide by UN resolutions... They say they will do what they like. We can in no way approve of such an attitude," he said. Hariri, accompanied by several ministers and businessmen, is on a three-day trip to Turkey, which he will wrap up Tuesday.
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