Israel threat to region because it has atomic bomb: Turkish PM
"I right now see Israel as a threat for its region, because it has the atomic bomb," Erdogan was quoted as saying by the Anatolia news agency, during an official visit to South Africa.
He also accused Israel of committing "state terrorism."
Erdogan in the past has accused the West of "double standards" in the way that it has tried to ban Iran from building nuclear weapons without taking similar measures against Israel.
Israel has never officially admitting to possessing nuclear weapons.
Turkey downgraded relations with one time ally Israel after the latter refused to apologise for its raid on a Gaza-bound Turkish aid flotilla, in which nine Turkish activists died on May 31, 2010.
Last month, Turkey expelled the Israeli ambassador and froze military ties and defence trade deals. Ankara has also threatened to send warships to escort any Turkish vessels trying to reach Hamas-ruled Gaza.
Erdogan's remarks came in response to comments from an Israeli embassy diplomat in South Africa, who blamed Hamas for launching rocket attacks into Israeli territory, said the private NTV television.
The prime minister responded that Israel bombed Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip as well as the UN buildings in Gaza with phosphorus bombs, reported NTV.
In recent months, the United States has been alarmed at the estrangement between Turkey and its closest Middle East ally Israel.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected to urge Turkey to defuse tension and repair strategic ties with Israel when she visits Istanbul to attend a conference on Afghanistan next month.
Clinton will visit Turkey on November 2, Marc Grossman, US special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, was quoted as saying in the Turkish media.
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Panneta clearly stated that we (Americans) want a defense supremacy of Israel in the region to deal with other potential players. So no doubt that they are backing them. Middle east has definitely lost its balance of power and it would have dare consequences on he other parties (Muslims).
@M: I think you are really confused . Please study the Quran rather than comming here doing jihad against Islam through your keyboard. Islam grants minorities its due rights and protects them under islamic law. minorities will be far better protected in an islamic state than in a secular state. Sadly there is no muslim country that is 100% islamic & mainly follow secular law. PAK is a good example of this fact & any minority persecuted in PAK is due to the people & the state not following Islam & giving minorities protection as per islamic law. Massacre of minorities in Secular india is a everyday affair & in that sense minorities in Bangladesh & to some extent in PAK is better protected than in India. Minorities are still far better off in muslim countries than that in any western countries and that is because muslims by nature of their religion considers every human as their brother in humanity.
@Bangladeshi Keep up the good work. Rather than encourage secularism as a means to offer basic human rights to minorities in Islamic countries, you would be happy to find a way to make their life hell. After the non Islamic minorities are eliminated, the Shias will turn on the Sunnis. After the Sunnis are gone, you will find another Islamic sect to train your weapons on. No wonder Muslims all over the world are suffering from poverty, oppression and backwardness in their own countries. It is gods curse on you people. Why think of progress and upliftment when you people have a blood sport to keep yourselves fully occupied?
Erdogan is the man. After years of dictator secular rule initiated by the most vicious Dictator of modern time kemal attaturk , turkey is going back to its islamic roots. Its a proof that a muslim country can never be secular unless it is forced on muslims through conspiracy and dictatorship.
Suadis are importent for america for two thing at a time Oil and Money in U.S banks and isralis are importent because they run U.S.A kabish every one.
@DesiOnTheLoose: Both are sisters. Search on YouTube.
Thats what you call a great man. I would dare the Saudi king to speak the truth when it comes to the jewish state
@Arshad As you said, US may change their strategy based on Arab spring but that’s a long shot.... What I think is that the US really do not bother the Arab spring as it was artificially created by US for some other purpose which many of us dont know, as US has a lot more influence in the region and know the psychology of these people very well.
Sour grapes!
What has it got to do with US. They should stop this hagomeny and let people say and do what ever. Turkey is only speaking the truth! Hiliary and Obama administration are a failure .
Not only that they were trying to traffic them to apartheid state. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/may/23/israel-south-africa-nuclear-documents
US clearly favors Israel because its a reliable strategic partner in middle east, unlike most gulf states. You can't blame US for watching out for its interests. However, the voices of the remaining Security Council members go mostly unnoticed in the media. For example, Germany is quite vocal of Israel as is France and China. India and Russia chime in every now and then but both remain mostly disconnected because they simply don't want the world to know about the atrocities in Chechnya and Kashmir which are far worst than Palestine. Palestine-Israel issue has become sort of a fashion debate than what it really is, a human crisis that needs human attention. Arabs want to win back some dignity after the defeat in 6-day war and Israelis who have the top hand won't give in, isolating themselves further in the diplomatic community, but that matters little because they have a vibrant economy and special export status in EU and North America. They can go on with this debate forever. Now someone has to fold, I am betting Arabs, but then again who knows? US may change their strategy based on Arab spring but that's a long shot.