Erdogan no longer perceives Netanyahu as his interlocutor

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is no longer an interlocutor for the Turkish leadership, the country’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters.

“Netanyahu is by no means an interlocutor for us anymore. We crossed him out.” quotes its Anadolu.

Turkey, he said, stands for the implementation of those initiatives that will “bring peace and tranquility” to the region, but will never support plans to “gradually erase the Palestinians from the historical scene.” Supporting Israel’s actions, which Erdogan added included killing civilians and targeting hospitals, is a move toward intractability of the conflict rather than resolution. Responsibility for the deaths of civilians in Gaza lies primarily with Netanyahu, the Turkish president believes.

Since the beginning of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, Erdogan has made a number of anti-Israeli statements. October 28, Turkish leader at a rally in support of Palestine in Istanbul accused Tel Aviv committed war crimes, and called the state of Israel an occupier. Erdogan also blamed the escalating violence in the Middle East on the West. In his opinion, the perpetrators of the “massacre” in the Gaza Strip are those who provide unlimited assistance to Israel. “West, I am turning to you! Do you want a war between the cross and the crescent?” stated the Turkish leader.

Erdogan noted that achieving peace in the region depends on the creation of an independent Palestinian state that would be recognized by all countries. Israel then announced the withdrawal of its diplomats from Turkey.

As Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko told Vedomosti, the opposing position of the United States and Turkey regarding the conflict between Israel and Gaza could cause serious contradictions in NATO.