Erdoğan given rapturous reception in Egypt

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan continued to make threats against Israel on his arrival in Cairo last night.

13 September 11 15:08, Globes' correspondent

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan continued to make threats against Israel on his arrival in Cairo last night, resulting in a rapturous reception by the crowds. He was surrounded by Egyptian supporters after disembarking from his plane at the airport.

Using a prepared amplifier system, Erdoğan spoke to the crowd in Arabic, saying, "Salaam aleikum, Egypt and Turkey are one. Peace to the Egyptian people."

Erdoğan was received by Egypt's acting Prime Minister Essam Sharaf and his wife.

The welcoming crowd included many members of the Muslim Brotherhood, which supports Hamas. Supporters along the road into Cairo carried Erdoğan's picture and shouted, "Egypt and Turkey will together become an Islamic Caliphate", and "Erdoğan, who angers Israel will liberate Palestine like Saladin."

Today, Erdoğan visited the grave of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, who was assassinated in 1981 after signing the Peace Treaty with Israel two years earlier. Erdoğan is scheduled to meet Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces Mohammad Tantawi and other political leaders to discuss bilateral cooperation.

Speaking in Cairo, Erdoğan said, "Israel is taking irresponsible steps that harm international law. We reject Israeli excuses that apparently justify the Gaza blockade."

He continued, "Unless Israel will apologize, compensate the victims and remove the Gaza blockade, we will impose sanctions and take other steps at the International Court in The Hague. The Palestinians have a just and legitimate right to proclaim independence. If Israel continues on its current line of behavior, it will lose."

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on September 13, 2011

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