Turkey and Israel escalate war of words

world jewish congress

07 April 2010

Following another critical remark about Israel by Turkish Prime Minister
Erdogan, Israel’s Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said the Turkish leader
was "slowly turning into a Gaddafi or a Hugo Chavez", the Libyan and
Venezuelan rulers. Lieberman said: "It is his choice. The problem is not
Turkey, the problem is Erdogan."
On Monday, the Turkish prime minister said that his country could not be
indifferent to the question of Jerusalem and to the "murder of innocent
children in Gaza." Erdogan added that Turkey would always be on the side of
Muslims, wherever they lived.

Lieberman suggested that Erdogan should deal with Turkey’s "problems with
the Kurds" rather than "preach" to Israel. Kurdish rebels have been fighting
for autonomy in southeast Turkey for more than two decades, killing tens of
thousands.

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry in Ankara swiftly condemned Lieberman’s statements
as "inappropriate and impertinent remarks which bear no truth," and called
on Israel to "trade their meaningless and unacceptable attitude with common
sense."

Meanwhile, it has been reported that Ankara will soon replace its ambassador
in Israel, who reportedly requested a transfer after being publicly
belittled by Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon in January. Ahmet
Oguz Celikkol is set to be replaced by Kerim Uras, an expert on Middle
Eastern affairs.

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