Erdogan says cancelling plans to visit Israel

ISTANBUL: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday he was cancelling plans to visit Israel because of its “inhumane” war against Hamas militants in Gaza.

“We had a project to go to Israel, but it was cancelled, we will not go,” Erdogan told ruling party lawmakers in parliament, adding that he viewed Hamas as “liberators” fighting for their own land.

Ankara’s relations with Israel froze over an Israeli raid on a Turkish ship carrying aid into Gaza killed 10 civilians in 2010.

Erdogan met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a United Nations summit in New York last month, marking a improvement in relations that began with a decision last year to reappoint ambassadors.

The Turkish leader did not say when he had intended to visit Israel, where Ankara had been eyeing joining a natural gas pipeline project promoted by the United States.

“Of course, we had good intentions, but (Netanyahu) abused them,” Erdogan said.

“If he had continued with good intentions, our relations might have been different, but now, unfortunately, this will not happen either.”