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Purveyor

(29,876 posts) Sat Mar 23, 2013, 12:56 PM Mar 2013

Turkish PM Erdogan: Conciliation With Israel Could Hasten Assad’s Fall

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday that the renewal of ties with Israel may hasten the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad, as well as furthering the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. Erdogan was speaking to journalists at a ceremony dedicating the opening of a new railway line near the city of Konya.

Erdogan also said that with the end of the crisis in Israel and Turkey's bilateral relations he may visit the Gaza Strip and the West Bank in April. He added that the implementation of the conciliation terms with Israel will be carried out gradually, noting that the exchange of ambassadors between Tel Aviv and Ankara would take place hand in hand with the progress made in compensation payments to the families of the victims of the Marmara flotilla.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu revealed on Friday in an interview with Turkish TV that talks conducted behind the scenes had been going on for weeks between Turkey, Israel and the United States, in connection with the conciliation agreement. These talks were accelerated during the visit of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to Ankara on March 1. Kerry told Erdogan and Davutoglu that U.S. President Barack Obama was keen on using his trip to Israel as an opportunity for ending the crisis in Turkish-Israeli relations.

Davutoglu added that he had spoken to Kerry six times in the past week, with drafts of the Israeli apology exchanged daily through American mediation. This went on until Friday morning, several hours before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s joint phone conversation with Erdogan and Obama.

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http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/turkish-pm-erdogan-conciliation-with-israel-could-hasten-assad-s-fall.premium-1.511491

5 replies

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Turkish PM Erdogan: Conciliation With Israel Could Hasten Assad’s Fall (Original Post) Purveyor Mar 2013 OP

I figured that was some of it. There's always a reason behind everything. TwilightGardener Mar 2013 #1

It will also be helpful to have Turkey in the loop when 'we' strike Iran. eom Purveyor Mar 2013 #2

Yes--but it could also be read as pressure. We get all our ducks in a row TwilightGardener Mar 2013 #3

Could be good for Erdogan the Islamist. Not so good for Israel. Comrade Grumpy Mar 2013 #4

That makes this part of the category of fixing the problems left by Bush the Unready Benton D Struckcheon Mar 2013 #5

TwilightGardener

(46,416 posts)

1. I figured that was some of it. There's always a reason behind everything.

Reply to Purveyor (Original post)

Sat Mar 23, 2013, 01:01 PM

Mar 2013

Purveyor

(29,876 posts)

2. It will also be helpful to have Turkey in the loop when 'we' strike Iran. eom

Reply to TwilightGardener (Reply #1)

Sat Mar 23, 2013, 01:06 PM

Mar 2013

TwilightGardener

(46,416 posts)

3. Yes--but it could also be read as pressure. We get all our ducks in a row

Reply to Purveyor (Reply #2)

Sat Mar 23, 2013, 01:10 PM

Mar 2013

and draw up plans, and then see what the response is.

Comrade Grumpy

(13,184 posts)

4. Could be good for Erdogan the Islamist. Not so good for Israel.

Reply to Purveyor (Original post)

Sat Mar 23, 2013, 01:13 PM

Mar 2013

What are you going to do, Tel Aviv, when the jihadis reign in Damascus?

Benton D Struckcheon

(2,347 posts)

5. That makes this part of the category of fixing the problems left by Bush the Unready

Reply to Purveyor (Original post)

Sat Mar 23, 2013, 02:12 PM

Mar 2013

By toppling Saddam Bush II gave Iran a new ally in the region. Getting rid of Assad takes one away, AND it removes the major prop under Hezbollah, which is good for Israel. Smart diplomacy.

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