Ahmet Davutoglu said late Wednesday that Erdogan’s comments were about Israel and not the US, adding that such public condemnation of the Turkish premier by “a friend and ally” was not acceptable.

The Turkish foreign minister made the remarks in an interview with Turkish Kanal 24 television.

On Tuesday, Erdogan said in a nationally televised speech that Israel was behind the ouster of Morsi whose administration took a number of measures against the Tel Aviv regime.

“What is said about Egypt? That democracy is not the ballot box. Who is behind this? Israel is. We have the evidence in our hands. That’s exactly what happened,” Erdogan said.

His remarks angered Israel, the United States, and the new Egyptian military rulers. The White House condemned the comments as offensive, unsubstantiated and wrong.

Davutoglu also said that Erdogan has been misunderstood and that the prime minister was referring to a mentality that led to Morsi’s ouster and not an Israeli plot.

Egypt has been experiencing unrelenting violence since the army toppled Morsi on July 3, suspended the constitution and dissolved the parliament.

More than 900 people, including nearly 100 soldiers and police, have died in clashes across Egypt since August 14, when the interim Egyptian government launched a brutal crackdown on thousands of peaceful protesters demanding the reinstatement of deposed president.

MRKDSHI