Crisis in Turkish relations as Erdogan says Allah will punish Israel for Gaza actions

A deep crisis in Turkish-Israel relations appears to be the first strategic casualty of Israel's offensive to suppress Hamas' rocket campaign. DEBKAfile's Ankara sources report that Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is seriously planning to freeze the long-standing military ties between the US's foremost defense allies in the Middle East and call off forthcoming joint maneuvers. If his hostility toward Israel persists, it will have far-reaching fallout for American Middle East policies and Israel's defense position in the region.

Monday, Jan. 5, Erdogan accused Israel of "perpetrating inhuman actions which would bring it to self-destruction. Allah will sooner or later punish those who transgress the rights of innocents," he said. Israel called the remarks "unacceptable."

Erdogan apparently believes that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert misled him when they met on Dec. 22, and said nothing of the planned operation, seeing the concealment as a sign disrespect for Turkey and a stab in the back to himself, according to Debka. The Turkish leader forced deputy chairman of the Turkish-Israeli Inter-parliamentary Friendship group, Egemen Bagis, to resign as a mark of protest against Israeli air strikes in Gaza. He then embarked on a diplomatic mission around Arab capitals and left Jerusalem off his itinerary. The tour ended in Saudi Arabia and produced no outcome, further fueling his frustration.