SIVAS (Turkey), Feb 14: Turkey’s fierce censure of Israel’s offensive in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip will not end its role as a peace mediator in the Middle East, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has said.

Israel’s military campaign triggered protests from Turkey that culminated in a shouting match between Mr Erdogan and Israeli President Shimon Peres at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Some diplomats and analysts say Turkey’s role as a mediator in the Middle East, and in particular as a neutral negotiator between Israel and Syria, suffered short-term damage because of Mr Erdogan’s fierce criticism of Israel and defence of Hamas.

“I don’t think that way... Turkey is a strong country that has a (unique) international position,” he said, during an interview on his plane while returning to Ankara from a campaign trip to Sivas.

“We were not the ones who wanted this negotiations role. In negotiations between Syria and Israel both countries wanted Turkey to be the mediator, that is why we took part in it. The same happened with the Israeli and Pakistani talks.”

He said critics misunderstood Turkish foreign policy if they thought the government was siding with Hamas or was against Israel. Turkey wanted peace in the region and was defending the helpless, in this case the civilians in Gaza, he said.

He said the ruling AK Party, which derives support from Islamists, had restored Turkey’s influence in the world and it was only natural that Turkey should use its newfound strength to help solve crises from the Caucasus to the Middle East.

Mr Erdogan said the results of the Israeli elections this week, showing gains by right-wing parties, had “painted a very dark picture” for the future. He urged the next Israeli government to look at how it conducted policies and actions towards the Palestinians and to lift what he called an embargo on the Palestinians.

Analysts say Israel is as split as the Palestinians and the prospects of the two making peace are dimmer than ever. “Unfortunately we have seen that the (Israeli) people have voted for these (rightist) parties and that makes me a bit sad,” he said.—Reuters