Israel is a terrorist state: Turkey PM
His comments came after nearly a week of Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel and Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip. An Israeli missile killed at least 11 Palestinian civilians including four children in Gaza on Sunday.
"Those who associate Islam with terrorism close their eyes in the face of mass killing of Muslims, turn their heads from the massacre of children in Gaza," Erdogan told a conference of the Eurasian Islamic Council in Istanbul.
"For this reason, I say that Israel is a terrorist state, and its acts are terrorist acts."
Ties between Israel and Turkey, once Israel's only Muslim ally, crumbled after Israeli marines stormed an aid ship in 2010 to enforce a naval blockade of the Palestinian-run Gaza Strip. Nine Turks were killed in clashes with activists on board.
Italy, Qatar urge immediate ceasefire
Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti and his Qatari counterpart urged an immediate ceasefire in Gaza on Monday, as Israel and militants in the Palestinian enclave traded fire for a sixth straight day.
"We are very worried about the escalating violence," Monti said at a joint news conference in Doha with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani.
"A ceasefire must quickly be reached to allow the peace process to begin as soon as possible," he told reporters according to an official translation.
The Qatari prime minister described the events in the Gaza Strip as "unacceptable" and echoed his counterpart by calling both sides to commit to a ceasefire.
"We are for a return of calm. But this must happen clearly and no side must be allowed to continue to assassinate or initiate side battles," said Sheikh Hamad. "A truce must be observed from both sides."
Israel launched its Gaza operation on Wednesday by killing a top Hamas military commander in an air strike, and Palestinian militants responded with rocket fire.
As fighting continued on Monday, ceasefire efforts gathered steam, with senior Hamas officials in Cairo saying Egyptian-led talks on Sunday with Israel were "positive" but now focused on the need to guarantee the terms of any truce.
Monti said his government was in contact with "Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Palestinian Authority, as well as Qatar's emir and its prime minister".
Meanwhile the Gaza death toll reached 95 in the worst Israeli-Palestinian violence in four years. Three Israelis have been killed and more than 50 injured by rocket fire since Wednesday.
The Qatari emir also called for "lifting the oppressive blockade on Gaza."
In October, Qatar's emir was the first head of state to visit Gaza since the Palestinian group Hamas seized it from forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas in 2007.
COMMENTS (82)
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@amanat: You already tried that once. You lost miserably to Israel all by its lonesome.
Yes.I agree with Turkish Prime Minister that Israel is a terrorist state but he has not clarified how to control this state from terrorism. This can be done only if Muslim countries join hands and take concrete steps to control this menace.
@Rampage:
Actually we will not. We want action on LeT, NATO wants action on Haqqanis. Whom you are targeting here, at least the intention, is TTP(not LeT, Jaish or Afghan Taliban).
So, what do you have to say about that now? You wanted to turn this into an Indian fault.. Will you stop protesting Israel's action now and start condemning Pakistan's?
well said
@BruteForce: If pakistan doesnt do this talibans will infiltrate...if we stop doing this indians, americans and afghans will whine that Pakistan is not doing enough
he is just talking like always and no real steps will be taken to save the muslims in gaza. if he was serious he would help them militarily but dont have the guts. all muslim leaders are like that. Now the discussion is wether which leader have the guts to say it or not and not abt the action to stop it by force. thats were our discussion level has fallen to. surprise that people dont see it.
@Field Reporter:
So wait a few years and even this will look "natural" enough.
Some commenter’s have labeled Turkey as terrorist state for something that happened in 1915, If you want to go that back in history then I am afraid no nation in this God Green Earth is clean.
@Rampage:
But, we are not the ones protesting Israel's actions.
http://www.rferl.org/content/afghanistan-pakistan-crossborder-shelling-attacks/24695438.html
You might want to look at this link. Pakistan is very much like Israel. So, the principle followed by Pakistan should not be applied when Terrorists attack Israel?
Is the life of a Pakistani of greater value than a non-Muslim Israeli?
@Rohan: Whereas I agree with your assessment that the Islamic Ummah is weak intellectually and militarily, so was Britain against the fascist state Hitler created. A fascist state like Israel and what it is doing to the helpless Palestinians is really painful to see. Whereas our founding fathers at partition dreamed of Pakistan being a Canada to big India being USA, it took a secular leader to vow that we will eat grass but we will never be in position that there is no military deterrent.
When I see the plight of the Palestinineans driven from their homes and dehumised and the atrocities they have to suffer, I realise what they say when you live in a rough neighbour hood you have to have a stick so that nobody treats you like Netanyu does the Palestinian people.
The Ummah is made of many countries and many deviations and every member state has to look after their own people untill sanity prevails. Roosevelt the great American President said America should speak softly and carry a big stick. I am afraid Netanyu and his ilk may have a stick but they talk very loudly and to much. Time is on the side of Israel's neighbours, they should learn from the Chinese and wait. Hong Kong will be theirs.
Muslim world is deeply deeply divided.
Kurds against vs Turks, Syrians, Iranians and Iraqis. Arabs vs Iranians, Syria vs other Arabs and Turkey. Algeria vs Morocco. Sudan vs Egypt. Afghanistan vs Pakistan.
Sad that nothing is done.
@Fed Up Indian. You are right he did all that, but never bombed a hospital. Israel has a history to do that, and they are doing it again. Lots of civilians, children & journalists have died in this offensive. Both are entirely different scenarios.
Hats off for Tayyip Erdogan bold statement. May Allah Unite muslims..Ameen
@Fed Up Indian: worry abt your double standards in kashmir, Assam, naxalite movement etc etc. I just cant understand Indian troll mentality.... its like pitch black kettle calling the pot black
@Hyder: Childish talk! Its not Turkey's business to get involved in Palestine issue militarily. Why would they want further destruction and death to their own country if anything and burden their own resources? Let me tell you my gullible emotional friend, there is nothing like 'Ummah', every country stands for its own and nobody else, you can condemn and raise voice but not provide armed support! Only Pakistanis have this romantic concept of Ummah (unless you are a super power like American and other countries side with you, you are alone here). Welcome to the real world.
Islamic nations are getting excited without realizing what it would mean to take on Israel. The Yom Kippur war must not be forgotten. Israel can rout its Islamic neighbors in the matter of days even if all of them gang up against it. Let's face it - the days of riding horses and chopping off people's heads is long gone. This is the day of science and technology and since Muslims are not very good in science, their glory days are behind them.
@Romo: At what cost though? That's the problem. The Palestinians simply don't want to be colonized - if the Israelis wanted peace they would have negotiated a settlement a long time ago - given their overwhelming military and financial superiority. What they've done to Palestine is inexcusable - and the wounds are unlikely to heal quickly given the decades of oppression. An Israeli commander is quoted as saying that they intend to 'bomb Gaza back to the Middle Ages' - they seem right on track, having hit 800+ targets in a tiny, packed and besieged city like Gaza. Sure, I feel that Israel has the right to exist as a nation-state, but certainly not as a country bent on expansion and annihilating its 'terrorist' neighbours.
Bravo! Erdogan!
Only a statement doesn't do much? Just saying its a terrorist country doesn't really mean much. No harm done to Isreal, They simply don't care. Muslim countries need to unite and tell them that if they wont stop action will be taken against them. Start giving ultimatums. Im pretty sure if all Muslim countries unite we can STOP Isreal.
Hamas is a terrorist organization. Israel has the right to defend itself. IF Palestinians really wanted peace, it could have been accomplished a long time ago.
Israel is digging its own deep grave. These cruelties will not go unpunished. Then, the damn Preperation H crowd the Indians have the chutzpah to defend Israel's actions. I guess they see their own ugly faces in the mirror of Kashmir.
Turkish have ability to say such comments because they are economically strong and self sufficient.. Not like Pakistanis..
Can you tell me something new
I totally agree that Israel is a terrorist state. It is committing once again the most brutal massacre of Palestinians. Yet once again! And religious extremists like Hamas give it such an opportunity to do so. The international community needs to wake up and immediately stop this most brutal ethnic cleansing of Palestinians!
@Sid: also inlude the Turkish genocide of 1.5 million Armenians in 1915.
What was the Armenian Genocide of 1915 then, not terrorism?
this statement is an invite for a bomb attack in turkey Mr. not seems true but not seems funny too....:-)
He is a true muslim leader. Hats off to him.. shame on us.
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui
Muslims lost the UN General Assembly vote which created Israel and decided war was the solution -- after many years and several wars maybe it's time to seek a different solution?
Hindutva cyber army is here. I don't undertstand why people talk of peace between India and pakistan. They should read the comments Indians post on ET.
well said sir!
Only two leaders in the world has courage to say that, Nawaz Sharif and Tayyip Erdogan.
sick of these statements wondering when these words will convert into actions rather than hallow sympathy!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui
LOLL
These countries: Egypt, Syria, Jordan and the Arab expeditionary forces consisting of Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Kuwait, Tunisia, Sudan, and also the PLO, could not last for 6 days in the 1967 war. The greatest victory EVER in the history of mankind.
So much for your Ghazi spirit.
Well, how can you, with the kind of intellectual talent that you have ? Nobel Prizes have been awarded to over 800 individuals, of whom at least 20% were Jews, although Jews comprise less than 0.2% of the world's population. Muslims have won 10 with grand total of 2 in sciences!! LOLL
Israel must pay the price for its brutalities and crimes it ha commited against humanity.
Save GAZA
Turkey Zindabad...........Save GAZA
When Israel kills muslim, it is dubbed the "terrorist state", but when Turkey killed muslims Arabs and Kurds inside and outside Turkey the victims are "Terrorists"?
Gross double standards, you muslims tell me which muslim is a terrorist and which one is the true terrorist labeling people with names.
If Turkey means what it says, it should give muslims Kurds their rights and support the Palestinians militarily. Otherwise, just SHUT UP.
Most of the targets that Israelis have attacked in the last 5-6 days have resulted mostly in civilian deaths. If anything that would provide Hammas with unconditional recruitment to its cause. Western allies with their usual lip service have brushed aside ramifications of this destruction on the civilian population as collateral damage.
The Israelis on the other hand cheerfully wallow in their ignorance. This willed ignorance is a foundation stone in the building of Israel's sense of victimization and its rhetoric of "self defence". Ofcourse then expect the Palestinians to defend their right to be not laid siege to and occupied and annexed and put in jail in the tens of thousands at a time. Israel must understand that until there's an equilibrium of rights, there will never be an equilibrium of peace and quiet on either side
Turkey has commited genoicde against Armenian Christains and bltantly and sends journolists to jails who question this legacy. Is it not terrorism?
@RAW is WAR: Are u sure it wasn't 30 million?? Indian textbooks may not agree with u.
Muslim Ummah should get united to face the Israeli aggression.
There is a need to call Muslim's Head of the State Conference and it should be hosted by President Asif Ali Zardari, President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
Turkey Zindabad!!
Most of the targets that Israelis have attacked in the last 5-6 days have resulted in civilian deaths. If anything that would provide Hammas with unconditional recruitment to its cause. Western allies with their usual lip service have brushed aside ramifications of this destruction on the civilian population as collateral damage.
The Israelis on the other hand cheerfully wallow in their ignorance. This willed ignorance is a foundation stone in the building of Israel's sense of victimization and its rhetoric of "self defence". Ofcourse then expect the Palestinians to defend their right to be not laid siege to and occupied and annexed and put in jail in the tens of thousands at a time. Israel must understand that until there's an equilibrium of rights, there will never be an equilibrium of peace and quiet on either side
Pakistan is the only coutry where we like leaders of the other muslim states.We have hero like Ahmadinejad,Morsi,King abdullah etc etc.What is wrong with us??
Ask this guy to break ties Israel 1st and then say some thing about her.By the way,where is his highness Ahmadinejad hybernating these days??
These people always accused previous rulers as amercian puppets like Hosni Mubarak of Egypt.Now Morsi is the president who also leads the prayers too.Why is he not declaring the war???Hypocrites.Long Live president zardari,Long Live beloved nawaz Sharif,my leaders.
...and Turkey by killing numerous Kurd Muslims is not?
@Outsider: Listen to tony Ben and Chomsky you cannot defend Israel
@Fed Up Indian: Do you stand by Netsnyu ask your pm and your fm
and Turkey forgets 1.8 million Armenian people killed in 1915. Just like Pakistan forgets 3 million Bangladeshis in 1971.
But I don't understand why this minister didn't condemn when Hammas killed some Israelis by hurling rockets.Just need a chance to blame someone , because you don't have good relation with another . Turkey did the same thing against the Kurdist terrorist , Israel is doing same against Hammas Terrorist.But it is not your fault , it is the fault of your profession.
Sorry, I meant "Ataturk and the leaders after him." Clearly, it can't be "predecessors." :-)
The violence in Gaza is horrendous and I am all for it to end immediately. However, Erdogan is a closet Islamist and while is brand of politics has made him and his party a strong player within his own country, his foreign policy actions don't look much dissimilar than KSA, Qatar, and company. They brutally crack down on internal dissidence (PKK) but play bleeding heart ummah-ists in Burma, Syria, and now here. It's a pity that they will most likely undo the good work done of Ataturk and his predecessors.
Israel has attacked the Hamas headquarters and has escalated bombing on the Gaza strip. The killings of innocent civilians in Gaza is no doubt pathetic and tragic and most inhuman however the acts of the Hamas too cannot be overlooked or go unnoticed. Israel as a nation is forced to maintain their survival and Palestine is off course is the core issue of discord. The United States of America no doubt must support Israel for various political and strategic reasons but the United Nations Organisation and the Security Council must intervene and a UN peacekeeping force is required to be sent to the Gaza area to check violence. This has been done in case of Kosovo in Yugoslavia then why not in case of the Israel Palestine conflict? The silence of the United Nations is perplexing and this is not a very positive indicator. Although this conflict is confined to Gaza but it is such kinds of conflicts that have grown in global wars and the First World War has been one such example in history which had started with assassination of the Austrian Archduke followed by the attack on Poland by Germany and thereafter France that was the beginning of the Second World War. The United Nations Organisations must take remedial measures before it is too late and check such conflicts between small nations. The bombing of Gaza and the counter attack on Israel by the Hamas besides being a military conflict is causing damage to human lives as there are civilian casualties too on a large scale which is what needs to be checked and is not a simple task. The permanent members of the UN Security Council must moot this issue and put an end to this conflict which has taken a rather serious turn.
@mr. righty rightist: Pakistan is not a terrorist state but ya the terror is in your heart and will be till the end of this world.
"I would have killed all jews of world but i left some to show the world why i killed them." Adolf Hitler
when muslim dictators kill muslim civillians its not-a-terrorist-act
At least somebody had the courage to call a spade a spade.
Yes Turkey has no morale ground to condemn innocent killings in palestine when it also kills kurds, same goes for India and Pakistan too which too kill innocent Kashmiri and Baloch respectively...
Turkey is part of NATO and its troops are in Afghanistan; hypervantilating ghairat brigade will never talk about this
@Hyder: And give me just one good reason why Turkey should get involved militarily.. Even assuming that it can crush Israel (which it can't), why would they get their soldiers killed fighting for others. Is Gaza a part of Turkey? Only Pakistanis follow this so called "Islamic Diplomacy".
Hats off to Turkey, wonder when will we woke up from the deep slumber.
After the genocide of abt 1,000,000 Armenians and thoroughly suppressing Kurds, Turkey calls Israel a terrorist state.
By the way, why did you for Pakistan, which is truly a terrorist state? Because Pakistan is muslim and Israel is jewish?
Another leader of a Islamist country giving statements no one except Muslims agree with...Hamas terrorists are to be treated differently from Kurds and Balochistan??? .And Pakistanis should not even say a word after their army has been using jets and choppers in civilian areas of NWFP and Balochistan ....not to say anything about Bangladesh ..yeah war criminal army
@Sajid Iqbal: So have you forgot excuses your govt made for Kashmiris killings? No dude its just that we also remember that all the mess is because of the Jihad/Holy War which Pakistan has so unholily put up against India and is now suffering its own 'Genie'... Good luck controlling the 'Jihad Factory'.....
He is right, all muslim government immediately endorse his statement.
Unfortunately Turkey no longer has any influence on Israel -- a bi product of prior unproductive use of harsh language which accomplished nothing. Yeah he became popular with the man on the street but the Arab leaders were unhappy that he lost his ability to negotiate with Israel - lost his mediation job with Israel/Syria and can no longer act behind the scenes to influence Israel on any issue.
Fully agreed Mr. Erdogan !!!! The whole world knows, but nobody can say it...
dear we are not talking to a person or states, role bt rights of humanity all over the waorld it does not permit netan yaho or erdgon to violate human rights we need to think irrespective of region and religion.@Fed Up Indian:
@Fed Up Indian: You're right; it was shocking to hear the animosity some Turks have towards their Kurdish counterparts - a Turkish friend told me that Kurds were 'retrogressive' and 'aggressive' before launching a tirade against their 'archaic and medieval customs'. Of course, that doesn't absolve the Kurds of the crimes they have committed but continuous propaganda in any state, Pakistan, India, Turkey or Israel will convince the local populace that the wars/operations they carry out, regardless of civilian casualties, are justified (Kurdistan, Balochistan, Kashmir, Palestine).
Nevertheless, Erdogan and his administration have correctly identified the Israeli assault on Gaza as inhumane and barbaric; beyond anything, I daresay, even the Americans have launched against our tribal areas with their drone strikes.
It is acts of such barbarism that give credence to extremist organizations - had Israel purported a more 'civilised' approach towards Palestine, factions like Al-Qaeda et al may not have gained such frightening popularity. What is even more ironic is that the Jewish people suffered terribly under the Nazis, and yet they replicate the same behaviour against Arabs and Palestinians. It is a very sad and worrying state of affairs. I hope this violence ends. soon.
Why doesn’t Turkey defend Gaza militarily?
Mere statements of sympathy, symbolic field visits, and diplomatic activities that are being showcased to address the aggression on Gaza. Statements of condemnation do not scare Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, who launched the attack for electoral purposes and to challenge the Muslims of the world Sending messages, dispatching officials and withdrawing ambassadors will not serve the purpose to stop the Israeli aggression now and in future. Does Turkey dare get involved in a war with Israel? Personally,
@Fed Up Indian: So have you forgot excuses your govt made for Kashmiris killings?
Mr. Turkish PM, fully agree with you.
Way to go. Only if the gutless 'house of Saud' could have the courage to stand up for the Gazans. Perhaps we should call them the 'House of Yahud'.
Hats off for Tayyip Erdogan bold statement. May Allah Unite muslims..Ameen
At least some nation has the guts to call spades spades...!!!
Every Muslim endorse the views of Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan .
Even this guy's government orders airstrikes against Kurdish villages along the Iraq-Turkey border, and when civilians die, Erdogan gives the same excuse- that the Kurdish PKK separatists/terrorists were hiding among civilians and collateral damage was unavoidable. Double standards much?