US reacts to Turkish president’s remarks blasting Netanyahu over Paris rally

WASHINGTON - Agence France-Presse

The U.S. State Department has reacted to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s remarks criticizing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s attendance of the anti-terror solidarity march in Paris.

State Department spokesperson Marie Harf said she “vehemently disagrees” with Erdoğan’s words that accused the Israeli prime minister of being hypocritical of Netanyahu.

The Turkish president said on Jan. 12 he could “hardly understand how he [Netanyahu] dared to go” to the massive Jan. 11 march in the French capital and urged him to “give an account for the children, women you massacred.”

“How can you see this individual, who carries out state terrorism by massacring 2,500 people in Gaza, waving his hand?” said Erdoğan.

“He is waving his hand as if people are very enthusiastically waiting for him,” added Erdogan, referring to the images of Netanyahu acknowledging supporters in Paris.

“Turkey will continue to fight ... against Israel’s reckless actions that do not recognize the law,” the Turkish president said.