Israel, whose relations with Turkey have been intense over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, has offered to hold talks with Ankara to discuss the 19-month-long Syrian crisis. Ankara has promptly rejected the possibility, saying Israeli officials should carry out the Turkish criteria for normalization of ties instead of using the media to send messages to Turkey.
Note that the call for dialogue was send from Pinhas Avivi, former Israeli ambassador to Turkey, who currently serves as the political director of the Israeli Foreign Ministry. “We should leave aside the problems between Israel and Turkey and look to the future,” said Avivi on NTV channel.
In Ankara, however, Foreign Ministry spokesman Selçuk Ünal said Israel should show deeds rather than send messages through the media.
In order to normalize relations Ankara pursuits an official apology and compensation for the families of the victims, as well as the lifting of the Israeli blockade on Gaza. However, Israel dismissed these demands, claiming its soldiers acted in self-defense. In protest Ankara discharged Israel’s ambassador and suspended military ties with the country.
“There is no change in Turkey’s position. Israeli officials should take the steps expected [of them], instead of sending messages through statements to the media,” said Ünal.
According to Avivi, the crisis between Israel and Turkey is “artificial,” and they should try to resolve their problems through dialogue. He also urged the officials of the two countries to create a mechanism for cooperation on the Syrian crisis.
Lately mortar shells fired from Syria landed in a residential district of the southeastern Turkish town of Akçakale in early October, killing two women and three children from the same family and wounding at least eight people. In response, Turkey attacked targets inside Syria. “We support Turkey’s stance following the Akçakale incident. We support Turkey due to the humanitarian issue, even though we have tense relations currently,” an Israeli official has recently told Today’s Zaman.
According to Turkish reports, officials at the Israeli Foreign Ministry have been told to avoid making statements which would increase tensions between Turkey and Israel.
