Prime Minister reacts to Turkish President's claim Israel 'beats men, women and children when they are prostrate on the floor.'

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu reacted with disdain to Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan's claim that Israel "beats men, women and children when they are prostrate on the floor."

"Erdogan, the occupier of northern Cyprus, whose army massacres women and children in Kurdish villages, inside Turkey and outside it – will not lecture Israel on morality," said Netanyahu.

Erdogan "cautiously" welcomed on Friday Washington's decision to withdraw its troops from Syria and said his country would postpone a planned military operation against Kurdish fighters in northeast Syria.

Speaking in Istanbul, Erdogan said the US decision meant Turkey would "wait a little longer" before launching the operation.

Erdogan claimed Turkey would be taking command of the fighting against ISIS in Syria, while continuing to fight against the Kurds in northern Syria.