Cairo (CNN) -- -- Turkey's prime minister planted himself at the heart of the Arab world's turbulent politics on Tuesday, when he declared himself a champion of the Palestinian cause during a speech at the headquarters of the League of Arab States. "Our Palestinian brothers should declare an independent state," Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced to an assembly of Arab foreign ministers in Cairo. "Now is the time to have the Palestinian flag in Gaza, and the Palestinian flag should go to the United Nations," Erdogan said to applause from the audience. "Let us hoist the Palestinian flag to the sky, and this should be a symbol of justice and peace in the Middle East."
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Turkish prime minister addresses Arab foreign ministers in Cairo
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Speech put an end to Turkey's isolation from the Arab world
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Recep Tayyip Erdogan continued his diplomatic offensive against Israel
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He is also scheduled to visit Tunisia and Libya during his "Revolution Tour"
But outside the @placeholder headquarters on Tuesday, a less welcoming crowd greeted the Turkish leader.