Erdogan Infuriates US, ’Israel’, Egypt on Tuesday Comments
Local Editor
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan angered its US ally and regional leaders in Egypt and "Israel" when he accused "Israel" on Tuesday of having a role in the Egypt military coup that overthrew President Mohammad Mursi.
The White House called the remarks "offensive".
Erdogan had addressed members of his Justice and Development AK Party on Tuesday saying he had proof that "Israel" was involved in the ouster.
"What do they say in Egypt? Democracy is not the ballot box. What is behind it? "Israel". We have in our hands documentation," Erdogan had commented.
As for Egypt's interim government, it said no one "sane or fair" could accept Erdogan's allegation.
However in Washington, White House spokesman Josh Earnest stated, "We strongly condemn the statements that were made by Prime Minister Erdogan today. Suggesting that "Israel" is somehow responsible for recent events in Egypt is offensive, unsubstantiated and wrong."
Stating the evidence he had that "Israel" is behind the coup, he said, "Before the 2011 elections, during a session in France, the justice minister and an intellectual from France... used exactly this comment: 'Even if the Muslim Brotherhood wins the election, they will not win because democracy is not the ballot box'."
"The West needs to learn the definition of democracy," Erdogan said. "If it cannot ... these clashes will carry the world towards a different place. What is that? It will take it towards autocratic regimes. That is our concern."
Source: News Agencies, edited by website team
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