WASHINGTON — The United States has denounced Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his “antisemitic” comments.

In a statement, on Tuesday Ned Price, the spokesman of the US Department of State said: “The United States strongly condemns President Erdogan’s recent antisemitic comments regarding the Jewish people and finds them reprehensible.”

Asking the Turkish president to de-escalate tensions rather than escalating them, the spokesman said: “We urge President Erdogan and other Turkish leaders to refrain from incendiary remarks, which could incite further violence. We call on Turkey to join the United States in working to end the conflict.”

“Antisemitic language has no place anywhere. The United States is deeply committed to combatting antisemitism in all of its forms. We take seriously the violence that often accompanies antisemitism and the dangerous lies that undergird it. We must always counter lies with facts and answer crimes of hate with justice,” the statement added.

Erdogan on Monday criticized Western powers for their lack of response to the violence between Israel and Palestinians, singling out the US and Austria. — Agencies