Shimon Peres, the Israeli President, attempted to calm jitters today over a dispute yesterday with the Turkish Prime Minister, stating that the spat was not personal and that ties between the nations would not change.

After Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s walkout yesterday during a heated debate at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Mr Peres said that he had spoken to the Turkish Prime Minister after the bust-up.

Mr Peres said: “I called him up and said, ’Yes, I do not see the matter as personal ... and the relations can remain as they are. My respect for him didn’t change. We had an exchange of views — and the views are views."

The Israeli President said that his outburst was a result of Mr Erdogan’s criticism of the country’s Gaza operation, which Israel blames on Hamas for continuing to hit it with rockets.

Mr Peres said: “They try to make the Israeli policy an ugly story. Israel is a democracy. It is fighting one of the most dangerous, terroristic, dictatorial groups. All of a sudden to be a humanitarian is to support dictators, to support terror, to support killing innocent people.”

Mr Erdogan returned home to a hero's welcome today after the heated debate.

About 3,000 supporters gathered at Istanbul airport in the early morning, waving red and white Turkish flags and banners reading "Conqueror of Davos" as Mr Erdogan's flight back from Davos landed.

Some carried banners denouncing Israel, a worrying development for a state that counts Turkey as its closest ally in the Muslim world and relies on its role as an intermediary between it and traditional enemies such as Syria.

"I did what I had to do," Mr Erdogan told reporters. "I cannot remain apathetic when it comes to these things. It's just not in my nature. I am duty-bound to defend the honour of my country."

Mr Erdogan blamed the debate's moderator, David Ignatius, of The Washington Post, for the incident, although he condemned Mr Peres's hectoring behaviour on stage.

"My reaction was directed at the moderator. I think that if we have moderation in this way, we won't really get out of Davos what we all come here to get out of Davos, and it would cast a shadow over efforts to reach peace," he told reporters at the meeting.

"President Peres was speaking to the Prime Minister of Turkey. I am not just some leader of some group or tribe, so he should have addressed me accordingly.”

Times Recommends

• Lies and cover-up at MG Rover exposed by report
• High oil prices push manufacturing costs up
• Primark founder steps down as chief executive