Turkish PM returns to hero's welcome after Gaza row

By Paul de Bendern

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan was given a hero's welcome on his return to Istanbul on Friday after accusing Israel of "knowing very well how to kill" during a heated debate at the World Economic Forum.

President Shimon Peres had launched a fiery defense of his country's offensive in Gaza over the past month, and with a raised voice and pointed finger, questioned what Erdogan would do if rockets were fired at Istanbul every night.

"When it comes to killing, you know very well how to kill," Erdogan, visibly angry, responded as he sat next to Peres at the debate, which also included United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and Arab League chief Amr Moussa. He then walked out of the room.

Turkey, a predominantly Muslim but secular country that historically has had good ties with Israel and the Arab world, played a role in helping broker an end to the Gaza offensive, particularly by lobbying the Islamist Hamas group to declare a ceasefire.

Thousands of people gathered at Istanbul's Ataturk airport to greet Erdogan when he returned from the gathering of business and political leaders, waving Turkish and Palestinian flags and chanting "Turkey is proud of you."

"Our people would have expected the same reaction from any Turkish prime minister," he told a news conference at Ataturk airport on Friday morning after speaking to the crowd.

"This was a matter of the esteem and prestige of my country. Hence, my reaction had to be clear. I could not have allowed anyone to poison the prestige and in particular the honor of my country," he said.

Erdogan said Turkey's reproaches were not against the Israeli people or Jews but against the Israeli administration.

Beyond the scenes at the airport, Turks gave a mixed reaction to Erdogan's walk-out. Former diplomats said it was likely to fuel tension between Israel and Turkey and might weaken Ankara's position as mediator in the Middle East.

Several thousand supporters of Hamas, the militant Islamist group that controls Gaza and was targeted by Israel for its firing of missiles into the Jewish state, rallied across the strip, many holding posters of Erdogan.

"Hamas praises the brave position by Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan," Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said in a statement.

Fuat Keyman, an international relations professor at Koc University, told Turkey's NTV broadcaster: "There has been a feeling among Arabs and those in the Middle East that someone needs to speak out in this way against Israel. Erdogan did this."

"A HUNDRED ROCKETS"

Peres had asked Erdogan directly at Davos: "What would you do if you were to have in Istanbul every night a hundred rockets?"

Erdogan had responded strongly to Peres's repeated question to the panel of what they would do in Israel's position.