Erdogan blasts Israel for "massacre" on aid ships
Turkey's hostility is as strong as its friendship: PM
Israel should be "punished" for its "bloody massacre" on aid ships bound for Gaza, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday, as he warned the Jewish state not to test Turkey's patience.
"The bloody massacre Israel carried out against ships carrying aid to Gaza deserves condemnation," Erdogan told lawmakers from his ruling Justice and Development Party, in an angry tirade against Israel.
"The insolent, irresponsible and impudent attack by Israel, which went against law and trampled human honor underfoot, must definitely be punished," he charged amid loud applause from his audience.
"Nobody should test Turkey's patience," he added.
Erdogan said that the Israeli military action was an attack "on international law, the conscience of humanity and world peace."
Testing Turkey's patience
The flotilla was the ninth attempt by sea to breach the three-year-old blockade Israel and Egypt imposed after the militant Hamas group violently seized the Gaza Strip in 2007, home to 1.5 million Palestinians. Israel allowed five seaborne aid shipments to get through but snapped the blockade shut after its 2009 war in Gaza.
"They have once again showed to the world that they know how good they are at killing people," Erdogan said. "Israel in no way can legitimize this murder, it cannot wash its hand of this blood."
Erdogan said Turkey would continue to support the Palestinian people.
"We will not turn our back on Palestine, Palestinians and Gaza," Erdogan said.
"No one should test Turkey's patience," he added. "Turkey's hostility is as strong as its friendship is valuable."
He urged Israelis to question the actions of their government.
"It is damaging your country's image by conducting banditry and piracy," Erdogan said. "It is damaging interests of Israel and your peace and safety. It is the Israeli people who must stop the Israeli government in the first place."
He said Israel cannot face the international community without expressing "regret."
"Israel cannot ensure its security by drawing the hatred of the entire world," the prime minister declared.
We will not turn our back on Palestine, Palestinians and GazaTurkish PM Erdogan
No flights
In the meanwhile, Israeli flag carrier El Al and Turkey's Atlasjet Airlines said earlier Tuesday they have put off the start of flights between Tel Aviv and Istanbul in the wake of Israel's raid of a Turkish-backed aid ship bound for the Gaza Strip.
El Al and Atlasjet were slated to begin flights using Atlasjet planes on June 20 thanks to a rebound in tourism over the past year. The flights were to compete with Turkish Airways' 25 weekly flights. No Israeli carrier flies to Turkey.
Turkey is one of the most popular destinations for Israeli tourists. And tourism has gone up 18 percent this year after dropping off in the wake Erdogan's criticism of Israel during a three-week offensive against Hamas fighters in Gaza a year-and-a-half ago.
Newspapers said that local trade unions, who regularly reward workers with trips abroad, were considering boycotting Turkey due to Ankara's role in organizing the aid flotilla.
An El Al spokesman said El Al and Atlasjet hope to renew flights in the near future.