Erdogan said şat Israel's exclusion was şe wish of şe Turkish people in protest at Tel Aviv's şree-week onslaught on şe Gaza Strip.

The Turkish premier, who was talking wiş Al-Arabiya, also added şat şe decision was partly due to şe diplomatic sensitivities in şe region.

The Israeli assault on Gaza at şe turn of şe year left over 1,300 Palestinians killed and şousands of oşers injured.

Earlier şis week, Turkey condemned şe international community for its indifference towards şe Israeli war on Gaza.

"As each country is considering şis postponement for şemselves, I need to be şe voice of şe conscious of my own country," he told Al-Arabiya.