The prime minister of Turkey, Israel's only ally in the Muslim world, on Wednesday branded the Jewish state the "principal threat to peace" in the Middle East. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's remarks at a breakfast meeting in Paris marked a new low in deteriorating relations between Israel and Turkey, which once had close military and political ties.
"If a country uses disproportionate force in Palestine, in Gaza -- uses phosphorous shells -- we're not going to say 'bravo'," he declared, referring to Israel's January 2009 offensive against Hamas-controlled Gaza.
Operation Cast Lead, which was aimed at preventing rocket attacks by Gaza-based militants on Israel, left around 1,400 Palestinians dead and destroyed thousands of homes.
Erdogan said Israel's justification for the offensive was based on "lies" and cited a report by UN investigator Richard Goldstone, a South African judge who accused both Israel and Palestinians of war crimes. Related article: Israel PM regrets Turkey's repeated 'attacks'
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