NO WARMING IN TURKEY – ISRAEL RELATIONS

Yerkir
12.01.2010 14:40

Yerevan (Yerkir) – Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
has accused Israel of violating Lebanese air space and launching
unjustified attacks against Palestinians in Gaza.

Israel "has disproportionate power and it is using that at will
while refusing to abide by UN resolutions. We can never accept this
picture," said Erdogan, in a press conference Monday with his Lebanese
counterpart. "These steps threaten global peace."

In response, the Israeli Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying,
"Israel respects Turkey and is interested in continued normal relations
between the states, but expects the Turkish side to reciprocate with
a similar approach towards Israel."

"PM Erdogan’s words," the Israeli statement added, "must be taken
together with the anti-Israel program currently being broadcast on
Turkish television, as well as other serious anti-Israel sentiments
repeatedly expressed by the Turkish prime minister for more than
a year."

Israel also said it reserves "the right to protect its citizens against
rocket attacks and terrorism by Hamas and Hezbollah" and asserted that
"Turkey is the last country that should preach morality to Israel
and to the Israel Defense Forces."