Turkish PM: Israel is the main threat

[mshoaib61]

Israel is the main threat to peace in the Middle East, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday, in what appears to be the another in a string of verbal attacks aginst Israel in recent weeks.

Speaking to journalists in Paris, Erdogan said that it is impossible to praise a country that exerted such excessive force in Gaza, including the use of phosphorus weapons.

He also criticized Israel for not signing the nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty, saying Israel should not be exempt from international supervision of its nuclear facilities.

Erdogan's latest statements came only four days after the Turkish PM addressed the recent heightened tension in Jerusalem, saying that Turkey would come to the defense of Muslims around the world, according to a report on CNN-Turk.

In that same speech, Erdogan also called the situation in Gaza inhumane.

"We cannot watch the murder of children in Gaza with indifference," he said.

In reponse to Erdogan's words on Sunday, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said Erdogan was attempting to integrate with the Muslim world at the expense of his country's ties with Israel.


Turkish PM: Israel is the main threat to Mideast peace - Haaretz - Israel News

 

[Jigs]

I read this this morning and i have to agree with Erdogan here i have the same views as him on the Gaza issue. The admitted use of white phosphorous shells is a big violation of U.N. regulations not to mention a huge amount of disproportionate force used in the conflict.

 

[gowthamraj]

so no turkish base for US to bomb iran

 

[S-A-B-E-R->]

so no turkish base for US to bomb iran

if that happnes then no f35 iguss..

 

[Jigs]

so no turkish base for US to bomb iran

Depending on the U.S. Armenian issue the U.S. might not have a base period in Turkey.

 

[Jigs]

if that happnes then no f35 iguss..

This would be a bad move by the U.S. because they need every partner they can get in that project and since we currently have contracts to produce subassemblies and access doors for F-35s by Northrop Grumman it wouldn't be a logical choice. Not to mention we are making one of the largest orders for them.

 

[Imran Khan]

turkey is great they can manage well

 

[arsalan shafique]

NOw The MUSlIMS ShoUlD ReShApE.....&..................................!!!!!!!

 

[Kambojaric]

I really admire this man. Probably one of the best if not the best leader in the islamic world right now!

 

[ameer219]

Israel is ‘main threat to Middle East peace’: Turkish PM


Operation Cast Lead based on ‘lies’
* Netanyahu ‘regrets’ Turkish criticism
* Criticism follows tensions, remarks by Israel FM

PARIS: 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.

‘Regretful’ attacks: 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. Turkey’s ties with Israel have suffered since Erdogan became prime minister in 2003 but this has accelerated since the Gaza offensive, which Turkey condemned.

Tensions: On Tuesday, Ankara “vehemently condemned” remarks attributed to Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman that likened Erdogan to controversial pro-Palestinian leaders Muammar Qaddafi of Libya and Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez. Israeli website Ynet quoted Lieberman as saying on Monday that Erdogan is “slowly turning into Qaddafi or Hugo Chavez” and added: “It’s his choice. The problem is not Turkey, the problem is Erdogan.” This spat followed tensions caused when Israel’s deputy foreign minister Danny Ayalon gave Turkey’s ambassador a public dressing down in January to protest a Turkish television series that criticised Israel.

After having kept Oguz Celikkol waiting, the envoy was made to sit on a low couch and the Turkish flag was removed from their table. Ayalon had pictures taken of the humiliating scene, infuriating Ankara.

One year after the Gaza battle, in a memorable outburst, Erdogan stormed out of a debate at the 2009 World Economic Forum in Davos after telling Israeli President Shimon Peres: “You know well how to kill people”. Turkey is currently a member of the UN Security Council, which will soon have to decide whether to follow French and US pressure to impose tougher penalties on Iran over its nuclear programme. At the Paris meeting, Erdogan pointed the finger at Israel’s undeclared stock of nuclear warheads, arguing that the fact that it had not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) should not exempt it from international safeguards.

“Is this situation logical?” he demanded. “Should not being a member of the NPT mean you can do whatever you like every day?” He repeated his opposition to sanctions against Iran, which Western capitals accuse of secretly seeking a nuclear bomb, insisting the International Atomic Energy Agency has found no hard proof of Tehran cheating. afp

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[zagahaga]

conservative ghotta love em

 

[Machoman]

He must have balls like grape fruit to say something like that.

 

[Crypto]

He must have balls like grape fruit to say something like that.

hahaha spot on

 

[nomi007]

great patriotic leader of Muslim world

 

[deesu]

I feel somthing big is coming in the near future...