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Erdogan: Gaza strife threatens Turkish-Israeli rapprochement

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, unlike previous instances, gave a relatively measured response to the Israeli operations in Gaza — but says they threaten prospects for Turkish reconciliation.
Turkey's Prime Minister and presidential candidate Tayyip Erdogan is seen through a camera monitor as he makes a speech during a meeting to launch his election campaign in Istanbul July 11, 2014. REUTERS/Murad Sezer (TURKEY - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS) - RTR3Y71D

Despite the newest round of violence between Israel and Hamas, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is keeping a measured narrative in his response. “On one side, Israel would wish to normalize its relations with us, on the other side these escalations continue — as long as Israeli aggravation continues, it is not possible to normalize the Turkey-Israel relationship,” he said July 11. “Our conditions were clear: apology [for the 11 dead from the May 2010 Mavi Marmara incident]; compensation and lifting of the blockade to Palestine [Gaza]. I was told that the paper was waiting at [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s] desk, but this [Israeli operation] takes away all of it.”

This was a much calmer tone compared to an Erdogan who lost his temper with Israeli President Shimon Peres in January 2009 at the World Economic Forum in Davos and stormed offstage during a discussion on Gaza, saying, “When it comes to killing, you know well how to kill!"

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