Turkey and Israel escalate war of words

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.

Relations between Israel and Turkey have been strained since Israel's operation against Hamas in Gaza in 2009.

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Guess, over 2 years ago

Jews and Armenian coast problem to the half of the world

Alex Postallian, over 2 years ago

lieberman and ergogan(loud-mouth) of the Middle East(capitalization only in respect) are like two snakes in a vase!!!!!

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