Turkey, Lebanon lash out at Israel

ANKARA — The prime ministers of Turkey and Lebanon on Monday lashed out at Israeli violations of Lebanese airspace and air strikes in Gaza, warning they were undermining prospects for peace in the region.

"Attacks on Lebanon is terrorism itself... We have to stand shoulder by shoulder against the enemy's plans... We have to stop Israel," visiting Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri told a press conference.

Lebanese anti-aircraft guns opened fire on four Israeli warplanes which were violating its airspace at low altitude on Monday, the military said.

Israel argues that the overflights are necessary to monitor what it says is massive arms smuggling by Hezbollah.

Hariri's counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose country's once-flourishing ties with Israel took a sharp downturn last year, said that Turkey "will never stay silent" on Israeli violations of Lebanese airspace.

He slammed the Israeli overflights as "unacceptable action that threatens global peace."

Erdogan also questioned a deadly Israeli air raid on the Gaza Strip Sunday, which, the Israeli army said, targeted militants who were preparing attacks.

"Is the Israeli government in favor of peace or not?... Gaza was bombed again yesterday. Why?... There were no rocket attacks," Erdogan said.

"They (the Israelis) have disproportional capabilities and power and they use them... They do not abide by UN resolutions... They say they will do what they like. We can in no way approve of such an attitude," he said.

Israel's ties with Turkey, a key regional ally, were poisoned by its massive offensive on Gaza last year, which prompted an unprecedented barrage of criticism from Erdogan's Islamist-rooted government.

In October, Turkey excluded Israel from joint military drills and said ties would continue to suffer unless Israel ends "the humanitarian tragedy" in Gaza and revives peace talks with the Palestinians.

Erdogan also renewed criticism of Western powers on Monday for pressuring Iran on its nuclear activities while tolerating Israel, considered the region's sole if undeclared nuclear power.

"We are against the development of nuclear weapons by any country in the region," he said.

"Israel has nuclear weapons... Those who are cautioning Iran must also caution Israel," he said, referring to the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.

"If we fail to display a fair attitude in this region, the problems will hit not only the region, but will spread elsewhere as well. The unrest of the Middle East is the unrest of the world," he said.

Hariri hailed Turkey's improving ties with Arab countries and increased activism in peace efforts in the Middle East.

"We hope and expect Turkey to continue playing a positive role in trying to bring peace," he said.

The two premiers witnessed the signing of an accord on visa-free travel between their countries and other deals envisaging cooperation in the military, agriculture and transport realms.

Erdogan said Turkey would supply natural gas and electricity to help meet Lebanon's energy needs and that the two countries planned a ferry service between their Mediterranean coasts.

Hariri was to wrap up his three-day visit Tuesday after attending a meeting of business people from the two countries in Istanbul.