Turkish PM calls Lieberman 'Israel's chief problem' Some three weeks after Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman publicly s

Some three weeks after Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman publicly slammed the Turkish leadership, breaking the government’s policy of refraining from responding in kind to Turkey’s anti-Israel rhetoric, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan lashed out at Lieberman, saying he should be fired, The Jerusalem Post reported.

In an interview on Al-Jazeera that aired Wednesday evening, Erdogan said, “Lieberman is Israel’s chief problem, and the Israelis should get rid of him. This is their problem, not ours. If Israel doesn’t fire him, their problems will get worse.”

The prime minister’s comments came on the day Lieberman traveled to Greece, a trip that further illustrates a flowering relationship between Jerusalem and Athens that has blossomed as quickly as ties between Turkey and Israel have faded.

At the end of December, during a speech to Israel’s ambassadors, Lieberman characterized Turkey’s demand for an apology over the Mavi Marmara incident as “beyond chutzpah,” and said both Erdogan and his Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu spread “lies” about Israel.

Erdogan, however, did not suffice with attacking Lieberman in his interview, saying, “The Netanyahu government may be the worst or least fortunate in the history of Israel.”

“I will not renew agreements signed with Israel,” Erdogan said, again demanding an apology for the Mavi Marmara and compensation payments. “When [Israel] responds to these conditions, we will assess the situation.”

Erdogan also defended Hamas, saying it “is not a terrorist movement. They are people defending their land. It is a movement that entered the elections and won...[Israel] sees them as enemies of democracy.”