The prime minister of Turkey, Israel's only ally in the Muslim world, on Wednesday branded the Jewish state the "principal threat to peace" in the Middle East. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's remarks at a breakfast meeting in Paris marked a new low in deteriorating relations between Israel and Turkey, which once had close military and political ties.
"If a country uses disproportionate force in Palestine, in Gaza - uses phosphorous shells - we're not going to say 'bravo'," he declared, referring to Israel's January 2009 offensive against Hamas-controlled Gaza. Operation Cast Lead, which was aimed at preventing rocket attacks by Gaza-based militants on Israel, left around 1,400 Palestinians dead and destroyed thousands of homes.
Erdogan said Israel's justification for the offensive was based on "lies" and cited a report by UN investigator Richard Goldstone, a South African judge who accused both Israel and Palestinians of war crimes. "Goldstone is a Jew and his report is clear," the Turkish leader told reporters invited to meet him at the Paris Ritz hotel. "It's not because we are Muslims that we take this position. Our position is humanitarian.
"It's Israel that is the principal threat to regional peace," said Erdogan speaking in Turkish, through a French interpreter. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hit back at what he said were Turkey's repeated attacks. "We are interested in good relations with Turkey and regret that Erdogan chooses time after time to attack Israel," he said at a Jerusalem news conference held to review his first year in office.
"It is a regrettable occurrence which I don't think serves the interests of stability and improved relations in our region," said Netanyahu, adding that he had not discussed the issue with Erdogan. Turkey is the only country in its immediate region to enjoy open military ties with Israel and has been a rare friend in the Muslim world, despite strong sympathy for the Palestinians among the Turkish public.
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