Turkish PM given hero's welcome on his return following his remarks to Peres about Gaza atrocities
Turkey's PM has received a hero's welcome on his return to Istanbul after he stormed out of a debate about Gaza at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Recep Tayyip Erdogan had reacted angrily when he was refused the chance to respond to Israeli President Shimon Peres' defense of the operation. Thousands of people turned out in the city to greet Mr. Erdogan's plane. He told them Mr Peres' language and tone had been unacceptable, so he acted to stand up for Turkish honor. "I only know that I have to protect the honor of Turkey and Turkish people," said Mr Erdogan. "I am not a chief of a tribe. I am the prime minister of Turkey. I have to do what I have to do."
Note EU-Digest: It is obvious to most people that the daily Hamas barrage of rocket fire towards Israel would eventually lead to Israeli retaliation. Mr. Erdogan has also reserved that right of retaliation when Turkey attacked Kurdish terrorists strongholds in Iraq. What is not acceptable is that Israel retaliated with excessive force, leading to incredible destruction and human suffering. All respect for Mr. Erdogan, who had the courage to tell Mr.Peres, who represented Israel (an ally of Turkey) at Davos, what most of their other allies and friends should have told them. There is no way this kind of barbaric warfare conducted by the Israeli's in Gaza can be justified, in particular because of their own experience with these kinds of atrocities in the the past.
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