DavidSling
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Liberman says that not only does Turkey have normalization demands, but so does Israel, first and foremost Ankara’s kicking out of the country the Hamas command.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (photo credit:REUTERS)
In the midst of a deep crisis with Russia, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan – known for a series of anti-Israel and anti-Semitic comments in the past – made his first conciliatory statement toward Israel in years on Monday, saying that normalization of relations would have a positive impact on the region.
“This normalization process has a lot to offer to us, to Israel, to Palestine and also to the region,” the Turkish daily Habertürk quoted Erdoğan as saying on a return trip from Turkmenistan. “The region needs this.”
According to the Turkish daily Hurriyet, which quoted the Haberturk reported, Erdoğan said there were still obstacles to mending ties with Israel that went into a tailspin following the 2010 Mavi Marmara incident.
At the time Erdogan put three condition on a normalization of ties: at Israeli apology, compensation, and a lifting of the blockade of Gaza.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apologized in 2013, there have been extensive negotiations on a compensation package, but Israel has made clear that it will not lift the maritime blockade of Gaza as a result of Turkish demands.
Former foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman told Israel Radio on Monday that Turkey is in a very difficult international situation because of its troop involvement in Turkey, its trade in Islamic State's oil, and its increasing tension with Russia.
Liberman said that not only does Turkey have normalization demands, but so does Israel, first and foremost Ankara’s kicking out of the country the Hamas command stationed in Turkey that is responsible for attacks in Israel. Secondly, he said, there is no reason to reach a compensation deal with Turkey if there is not a law in the Turkish parliament preventing the possibility of pressing charges against IDF soldiers involved in the Mavi Marmara incident in various courts worldwide.
And finally, he said, Israel must demand an end to Turkish incitement against Israel around the world. Liberman said that a normalization of ties with Turkey would harm Israel's flowering ties with Greece and Cyprus, Turkey's historic rivals, and would also not be seen positively by Russia.
Liberman said that in a cost-benefit analysis, the price of normalizing ties with Turkey is not reasonable, especially considering the Turkish condition that Israel lift the blockade on Gaza.
Erdogan's comments were published a day after Turkey's Jews lit a huge Hanukka menorah in Istanbul, which Hurriyet reported was the first public celebration of the holiday in the Turkish republic's history.
According to Hurriyet, officials from the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Istanbul Governor’s Office, Foreign Ministry and office of the mufti in Istanbul attended the event, alongside the consul generals of the United States, Spain and Israel.
Erdogan talks of positive impact of improved Turkey-Israel ties - Israel News - Jerusalem Post
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (photo credit:REUTERS)
In the midst of a deep crisis with Russia, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan – known for a series of anti-Israel and anti-Semitic comments in the past – made his first conciliatory statement toward Israel in years on Monday, saying that normalization of relations would have a positive impact on the region.
“This normalization process has a lot to offer to us, to Israel, to Palestine and also to the region,” the Turkish daily Habertürk quoted Erdoğan as saying on a return trip from Turkmenistan. “The region needs this.”
According to the Turkish daily Hurriyet, which quoted the Haberturk reported, Erdoğan said there were still obstacles to mending ties with Israel that went into a tailspin following the 2010 Mavi Marmara incident.
At the time Erdogan put three condition on a normalization of ties: at Israeli apology, compensation, and a lifting of the blockade of Gaza.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apologized in 2013, there have been extensive negotiations on a compensation package, but Israel has made clear that it will not lift the maritime blockade of Gaza as a result of Turkish demands.
Former foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman told Israel Radio on Monday that Turkey is in a very difficult international situation because of its troop involvement in Turkey, its trade in Islamic State's oil, and its increasing tension with Russia.
Liberman said that not only does Turkey have normalization demands, but so does Israel, first and foremost Ankara’s kicking out of the country the Hamas command stationed in Turkey that is responsible for attacks in Israel. Secondly, he said, there is no reason to reach a compensation deal with Turkey if there is not a law in the Turkish parliament preventing the possibility of pressing charges against IDF soldiers involved in the Mavi Marmara incident in various courts worldwide.
And finally, he said, Israel must demand an end to Turkish incitement against Israel around the world. Liberman said that a normalization of ties with Turkey would harm Israel's flowering ties with Greece and Cyprus, Turkey's historic rivals, and would also not be seen positively by Russia.
Liberman said that in a cost-benefit analysis, the price of normalizing ties with Turkey is not reasonable, especially considering the Turkish condition that Israel lift the blockade on Gaza.
Erdogan's comments were published a day after Turkey's Jews lit a huge Hanukka menorah in Istanbul, which Hurriyet reported was the first public celebration of the holiday in the Turkish republic's history.
According to Hurriyet, officials from the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Istanbul Governor’s Office, Foreign Ministry and office of the mufti in Istanbul attended the event, alongside the consul generals of the United States, Spain and Israel.
Erdogan talks of positive impact of improved Turkey-Israel ties - Israel News - Jerusalem Post