Israel Matzav: It's come to this

It's come to this

It's amazing how much Israel's relations with Turkey have deteriorated since Tayyip Erdogan stormed past Shimon Peres in Davos sixteen months ago. Turkey is now threatening war.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Israel against responding to rocket attacks from the Gaza strip.

In an interview with the Turkish TV station TRT Erdogan said that Turkey will not stand idly by if Israel carries out another campaign inside the Gaza Strip.

And Israel's response:

Israel, in a sharply worded response to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s latest rhetorical slam, advised him on Monday night “not to turn into another extreme leader such as Hugo Chavez.”

Erdogan should not try to integrate his country into the Arab world at Israel’s expense, a Foreign Ministry official said, in a rare direct response to one of Erdogan’s now almost routine attacks on Israel.

The official, reading from a ministry response, said Israel was not looking for a confrontation with any country, including Turkey. But, he said, the impression being created is that Erdogan wants to integrate his country into the Arab world “on Israel’s back.”

“We suggest he look for a more creative way to integrate both into the Muslim and Western worlds,” the official said, and “not to turn into another extreme leader such as Hugo Chavez.”

The official said Israel hoped that in light of Erdogan’s professed concern for Muslims all around the world, he would express sorrow at the long line of murders of innocent Pakistanis and Iraqis by terrorist organizations.

What could go wrong?

Israel Matzav: It's come to this