Erdogan: Results of Israeli elections will make future of the region “bleak”

Turkish premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan has expressed concern over results of the Israeli general elections that witnessed emergence of far right parties.

In a televised interview on Saturday, Erdogan said that the results of the election would make the future of the region “bleak”.

However, he asked the coming Israeli government to pursue a new policy with the Palestinians that would end the siege on them, adding that the policy of siege had failed.

The premier asserted that the Palestinian people are entitled to live in freedom away from siege, which, he said, contradicted human rights.

The Turkish foreign ministry on Saturday summoned Israeli ambassador Gabby Levy to protest comments by Avi Mizrahi, commander of Israel”s land forces, in which he lashed out at Turkey and Erdogan.

Turkey earlier on Saturday called on Israel to explain remarks quoted in Haaretz by Mizrahi that questioned Turkish policies toward Kurds and Cyprus, saying ties between the two countries could be at stake.