The conflict between Israel and Palestine could well have the consequence of poisoning relations between Turkey and the United States, both members of NATO.

This Wednesday, the presidency's communication rejected Washington's accusations that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made "anti-Semitic" remarks following Israel's strikes in the Gaza Strip.

"The US statement about our President Erdogan's remarks on Israeli violence against Palestinian civilians is absolutely unacceptable," communications director Fahrettin Altun tweeted.

On Tuesday, the US State Department strongly denounced the words of Recep Tayyip Erdogan deemed "anti-Semitic" and called on to avoid "inflammatory remarks which could incite even more violence" in the Middle East.

"The United States strongly condemns President Ergodan's recent anti-Semitic remarks against the Jewish people," wrote Ned Price, spokesperson for the State Department in a statement.

"It is only sucking the blood that satisfies them".

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, from political Islam, set himself up as a defender of the Palestinian cause during his eighteen years in power as prime minister or president and accused Israel of "terrorism" towards the Palestinians.

On Monday, he fiercely attacked the Israeli leaders for the strikes launched since May 10 in the Gaza Strip.

"They are murderers, so much so that they kill children aged five or six", he said, adding: "it is only sucking the blood that satisfies them".

"A loose press release to divert international attention"

Recep Tayyip Erdogan intervened later on Wednesday to defend his remarks and promise to "shout as loud as possible whenever we see cruelty".

“If we have to pay a price for (…) defending the innocent, we will never hesitate to pay it,” he said in a televised speech.

Fahrettin Altun called accusations of anti-Semitism against President Erdogan "heinous".

"This is a cowardly statement to divert international attention from Israel's crimes against humanity," he said.

“To accuse our president of anti-Semitism is an illogical and false approach.

It's a lie told against our president, ”Omer Celik, spokesperson for the AKP, the ruling Justice and Development Party (Islamo-conservative), had previously tweeted.

Biden accused of having "bloody hands"

After a year of heated differences, Recep Tayyip Erdogan has tried in recent months to improve relations with Washington and to reach out to other Western allies.

But on Monday, he also blamed US President Joe Biden for his diplomatic support for Israel, accusing him of having "bloody hands."

Recep Tayyip Erdogan has launched a diplomatic campaign to impose sanctions on Israel, whose air offensive on the Gaza Strip has killed at least 219 people since May 10.

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  • Tensions

  • Israel

  • Gaza

  • Anti-semitism

  • Palestine

  • Israelo-Palestinian conflict

  • United States

  • Recep Tayyip Erdogan

  • Turkey

  • World