The latest quarrel between the leaders of Turkey and Israel continued for a second day Wednesday as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan labeled Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a �thief� and a �tyrant.�

Speaking at an election campaign rally, Erdogan called Netanyahu �the thief who heads Israel� in a reference to corruption allegations against the long-seated Israeli prime minister.

Netanyahu fired back on Twitter, describing the Turkish president as a �dictator who sends tens of thousands of political opponents to prison, commits genocide against the Kurds, and occupies Northern Cyprus.�

Israel and Turkey were once close allies, but diplomatic relations between the two countries have chilled in the past decade. Under Erdogan, Turkey has become a vocal critic of Israeli policies dealing with Palestinians, sparking frequent verbal feuds with Netanyahu.

At Wednesday�s campaign rally, Erdogan criticized Israel�s closure of the Har HaBayis on Tuesday after Palestinian suspects hurled a firebomb at a police station.

There were no injuries in the incident, but police shuttered the site. It was reopened Wednesday without incident.

�You are a tyrant,� Erdogan said, addressing Netanyahu at the rally. �You are a tyrant who slaughters 7-year-old Palestinian kids.�

The Israeli prime minister responded in his tweet.

�It�s best that he doesn�t get involved with Jerusalem, our capital for 3,000 years,� Netanyahu quipped. �Erdogan can only learn from us how to respect every religion and protect human rights.�

The last war of words started Tuesday when Erdogan�s spokesman called Netanyahu a racist for saying Israel was the nation-state only of the Jewish people.

Netanyahu struck back, calling Erdogan a dictator and criticizing the Turkey for imprisoning journalists.

It�s best that he doesn�t get involved with Jerusalem, our capital for 3,000 years. Erdogan can only learn from us how to respect every religion and protect human rights.

— Benjamin Netanyahu – ?????? ?????? (@netanyahu) March 13, 2019

(AP)