The Turkish Republic acted independently despite regional upheavals and “dictatorships” indicating that the republic succeeded in pushing an “isolated” Israel to “kneel down” before it

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said the Turkish Republic acted independently despite regional upheavals and “dictatorships”, indicating that the republic succeeded in pushing an “isolated” Israel to “kneel down” before it.

In an interview with the Turkish daily Zaman, Davutoglu was responding to claims by the opposition in Israel that Ankara has shifted its policy towards the East, despite its dependency on Western countries.

Davutoglu struck back, saying that the country acts independently in the face of regional upheavals and dictatorships. He said it was Turkish foreign policy which forces Israel to "kneel down" before Turkey.

"We have always sided with people who demand democracy," Davutoglu said, adding that Ankara does not support “oppressive regimes.”

The Turkish foreign minister told the Turkish parliament Thursday that Ankara was determined to press ahead with a "zero problems with neighbors" policy, according to the daily’s report.