Turkey's decision to bar Israel from a NATO military drill earlier this week was based on "the people's" concern over Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip earlier this year, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan reportedly said Wednesday evening.

Citing an Al Arabiya television interview, Reuters quoted Erdogan as saying, "There are diplomatic sensitivities in the region which we had to take into consideration... and we took into consideration the conscience of our people ... because our people did not want Israel's participation."

On Tuesday night, the United States criticized Turkey on Tuesday night for refusing IDF participation in the drill.

US State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said that "as to the question of whether there was a government that was invited to participate and then removed at the last minute, we think it's inappropriate for any nation to be removed from an exercise like this at the last minute." RELATEDSyria: We held exercise with TurkeyEditorial: Ankara must decideErdogan: IDF fired phosphorus at innocent children

He was asked whether that was what happened, and if Israel was the spurned country. He confirmed both.

Herb Keinon contributed to this report