Turkey calls Israel `terrorist state`

Ankara: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called Israel a "terrorist state" for its offensive in the Gaza strip now in its sixth day. Erdogan`s comments today came a day after US lawmakers called on Turkey and Egypt to help end the conflict in the Middle East.

Turkey`s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is set to join an Arab League delegation that will travel to Gaza to try to broker a cease-fire. Erdogan accused Israel of inhumane acts at a meeting gathering religious leaders and added: "That is why I say Israel is a terrorist state." Israel insists the offensive is meant to quell Hamas rocket fire on Israel. Turkey`s ties to Israel collapsed over a deadly raid by Israeli troops on a Turkish aid ship bound for Gaza in 2010. PTI