Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has met with Hamas leader Khaled Meshal, a move that is being carefully watched by Israel as Turkey has just agreed to renew diplomatic and economic ties with Israel. It is reported the meeting took place in Istanbul on Saturday, December 19, 2015.
According to reports, an “understanding” has been reached that will lead to renewed relations. Israel has agreed to compensate the victims of the Marvi Marmara and the two countries will reinstate their ambassadors. It is yet to be announced what is going to occur regarding Turkish demands for Israel to remove the marine blockade on Gaza. There are reports Israel has agreed to ease restrictions pertaining to the blockade but details have yet to be released. Israel has also demanded that Turkey prevent senior Hamas official Saleh al-Arouri from operating in its country.
According to a report in Turkish Newspaper Daily Sabah, the deal will likely be signed before the end of 2015. The report explains Erdogan updated Meshal on events in the region, presumably including the ‘understanding’ reached with Israel.
At the time of this report there has been no official Israeli response to the reported meeting between the Turkish president and Hamas leader.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One Response
Because Turkey has a dream of returning to the pre-1914 status quo in which everyone else, Jews, Arabs, etc., looked up and generally did what the Turks said. In a neo-Ottoman regime, both the Palestinians and the Arabs would be required to live in peace under Turkish asupices.