Turkey's prime minister on Friday said Israel should be barred from the United Nations while it ignores the body's calls to stop fighting in Gaza.
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan.
Photo: AP
"How is such a country, which does not implement resolutions of the UN Security Council, allowed to enter through the gates of the UN (headquarters)?" Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.
Erdogan spoke before UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was set to arrive in Ankara to discuss the conflict.
Erdogan accused Israel of attacking civilians under the pretext of targeting Hamas.
Turkish President Abdullah Gul on Friday renewed calls for an immediate cease-fire and also urged US President-elect Barack Obama to focus on a comprehensive, long-lasting and fair solution once in office.
Meanwhile, Ban urged Israel to immediately stop the Gaza operation.
"I strongly urge Israeli leadership and government to declare a ceasefire unilaterally," Ban said in Ramallah. "It's time to think about a unilateral cease-fire from the Israeli government."
Government spokesman Mark Regev dismissed the notion.
"I don't believe that there's a logical expectation in the international community that Israel unilaterally cease fire while Hamas would continue to target cities, trying to kill our people," Regev said.
