Turkish PM
Photo: AP
Turkish PM slams detention of Hamas officials
Tayyip Erdogan criticises Israel's detention of Hamas cabinet ministers, says he will discuss crisis with White House
The prime minister of Turkey, one of Israel's few allies in the Muslim world, criticised on Saturday Israel's detention of Hamas cabinet ministers and said he would discuss the crisis with the White House.
"I have difficulty understanding the abduction of eight Palestinian ministers and 50 members of parliament and administrators," Tayyip Erdogan said in televised remarks.
"These developments have greatly saddened us, but we have not given up hope. We will do all we can (to help resolve the crisis)," He said.
Erdogan added that he would discuss the Palestinian crisis later on Saturday with President George W. Bush.
Predominantly Muslim but secular Turkey has close military and trade ties with Israel, though Erdogan's Islamist-rooted government infuriated Israelis and the Bush administration earlier this year when it invited Hamas leaders to Ankara.
Erdogan, who wants Turkey to play a more active role in Middle East diplomacy, has also criticised Western sanctions against the Palestinians' Hamas government, saying they will only breed more hatred.
The United States and the European Union, which Turkey hopes to join, say Hamas must renounce violence and accept Israel's right to exist.
