CAIRO (AP) — Turkey's prime minister told Arab foreign ministers Tuesday that Israel has isolated itself and must "pay the price" after refusing to apologize for its raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla last year, as he launched a high-profile visit that underscored his nation's rising standing in the Arab world.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was given a warm reception on his three-day visit to Egypt, meeting with its new military chief and prime minister. During a 30-minute speech at the Arab League, he was interrupted several times by foreign ministers' clapping and applause.
Erdogan has dramatically stepped up Turkey's influence in the Middle East as the region is swept by revolts and uprisings. At the same time, many Arabs have cheered his increasingly confrontational stance against Israel.
"The Palestine issue continues to be the bleeding wound of the region," Erdogan said at a news conference with Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf in Cairo.
Arab League foreign ministers restated their support for the Palestinian drive to seek U.N. statehood recognition.
In a statement Tuesday, the 22-member body condemned "unilateral Israeli measures aimed at changing the reality of the occupied Palestinian territories," referring to settlement construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.
Israel is opposed to the U.N. push and the United States said it will veto it in the U.N. Security Council.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is still considering whether to request state membership at the Security Council, or instead seek a vote of recognition at the U.N. General Assembly, where it is likely to pass as a largely symbolic measure.The Palestinians currently have observer status at the U.N.
Voicing his support for the recognition of Palestine, the Turkish prime minister said "this is not an option but a necessity."
Angered by Israel's refusal to apologize over the deaths on a Turkish flotilla to Gaza last year, Turkey suspended military ties with Israel, expelled top Israeli diplomats and vowed to send the Turkish navy to escort Gaza-bound aid ships in the future.
Israel "must pay the price for the crimes it committed," Erdogan said in his speech to the Arab foreign ministers.
"It (Israel) acts irresponsibility and without hesitation in smashing the human dignity and international law by carrying assaults on international convoys which carry nothing but food and toys for children," Erdogan said.
Such assaults, "threaten the Israeli nation," he said. "The Israeli people became a besieged nation."
Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor refused to comment on Erdogan's address. Israel has defended its raid on the flotilla, saying its troops were attacked by passengers as they boarded and were defending themselves. Last week, Israel expressed regret for the loss of lives aboard the flotilla and said it was time for the two countries to restore their former close ties.
A U.N. report into the raid, released earlier this month, said Israel's naval blockade was legitimate but accused Israel of using "excessive and unreasonable" force in the raid.
Erdogan will also visit Tunisia and Libya, two other countries where popular uprisings have ousted autocratic leaders. He had hoped to be able to cross into Gaza from Egypt, but government officials said Sunday his scheduled would be limited to these three countries.
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Associated Press writer Aya Batrawy in Cairo contributed to this report.
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