PERNYATAAN PM TURKI ATAS SERANGAN ISRAEL KE JALUR GAZA

Turkey PM Defends His Condemnation of Israel, Says His Words Not Tougher than Phosphorus Bombs Used by Israel Against Children
16/01/2009

The Prime Minister of Turkey Tayyip Erdogan defended his outspoken criticism of Israel's Gaza offensive and said it did not mean he was anti-Semitic.

Erdogan has described Israel's military offensive against Gaza as "a crime against humanity" and defended those remarks on Tuesday in a speech to his ruling AK Party in parliament, broadcast live on television in Turkey.

"There are people who are disturbed by me speaking of my discomfort over the killing of civilians, (including) children. . . If we do not state what is just and lawful, then we will lose our self-respect," he said.

"I am (also) a leader who has said that anti-Semitism is a crime against humanity," he said.

Human Rights Watch has accused Israel of using white-phosphorus munitions during its offensive. The Israeli army has said it will not give details of its munitions.

"There are people who say that the prime minister's statements are too tough (on Israel), but my words are not tougher than phosphorus bombs," Erdogan said.

Erdogan said Israeli media were spreading false information about the Gaza offensive.

"Excuses are found for mass killings of children at schools, hospitals and mosques, especially by Jewish-backed media," he said. "News stories saying that terrorists hide among children or (describing bombings) as technical errors or accidents are aimed at making fun of the world (public opinion)."

Erdogan on Tuesday visited 10 Palestinians evacuated to Turkey after being injured in the Israeli offensive on Gaza.

Speaking outside a private hospital in Ankara afterwards, Erdogan said Turkey was ready to treat more Palestinians if needed.

The ten Palestinians and accompanying relatives arrived earlier on Tuesday at Ankara's Esenboga airport by an ambulance plane which took off from Egypt, the Anadolu news agency reported.

They were treated on board by Turkish doctors and were transferred to a private hospital on arrival.

More than 1100 Palestinians have been killed including 400 children and over 5200 others wounded since the launch of the Israeli raid on Gaza on December 27, 2008.

(The Tripoli Post)