Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan received a rock star welcome in Cairo where activists, women and the media gushed over the region's new "hero" over his pro-Palestinian stand and his virulent criticism of Israel.
Erdogan, who on Tuesday kicked off a three-nation Arab Spring tour in Egypt, threw his weight behind Palestinian statehood during a keynote speech at the Arab League, bolstering his image as a regional leader.
His visit comes as activists who overthrew president Hosni Mubarak in February are increasingly angry at their own leadership for backtracking on promises of reform.
Addressing Arab foreign ministers, Erdogan said the recognition of a Palestinian state is an "obligation" and reiterated that strained ties with Israel will not improve unless the Jewish state apologises over the death of nine Turks killed in a raid on an aid flotilla last year.
"Before the end of this year we will see Palestine at the United Nations in a very different situation," he said. "It is time for the flag of Palestine to be hoisted at the United Nations."
His statements, echoing sentiments on the Arab street, may have unnerved Egypt's military leadership which is scrambling to smooth over ties with Israel after its embassy in Cairo was attacked.
The attack on the mission, in which crowds smashed through an external security wall, tossed embassy papers from balconies and tore down the Israeli flag, was the worst since Israel set up its mission in Egypt, the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with the Jewish state, in 1979.
It was the latest episode in worsening relations between Egypt and Israel since the killing of five Egyptian policemen last month on their common border as Israel hunted militants after a deadly attack...
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