Turkish FM criticized opposition's candidate for Mideast neutrality call

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmed Davutoglu criticized Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the joint presidential candidate of five opposition parties in Turkey, for his call to on Turkey to remain impartial against Israeli strikes which left 20 dead in two days.

"To be neutral against the strikes means supporting the Israeli occupation," said Davutoglu during a debate in which he participated at Skyturk360, the private TV channel. "Turkey has always stood by Palestinian people and will continue to stand by them," he said.

Davutoglu also referred to the opposition candidate's statement as being an "unfortunate" statement in many ways.

"When the history flows and there is fair and unfair, saying 'I will remain neutral' is not actually meant to be neutral; it means standing by the oppressor, rather,"

"When you do not take a stand in a case in which you must take a stand, it means that you are along with the circles who make use of this situation or has an interest of this impartial standing," said Davudoglu.