“Turkey Wants to Stay at Same Distance from Israel, Arabs”

In case you missed it: Erdogan affirms Gaza visit

Marwa Haidar

Turkish Prime Minister voiced on Tuesday his wish to visit the besieged Gaza strip, noting that other officials were also looking to do the same. “If conditions are appropriate, I will consider a visit to Gaza,” Erdogan said. “The foreign ministry will be working on it. I wish to make such a visit, depending on the outcome." Israelis may look to the move as an attempt by Erdogan to repair the Israeli-Turkish ties. Israeli Website “Ynet” said on Wednesday: “Such an announcement has the ability to boost the tension between Ankara and Jerusalem, as Erdogan's visit must first be okayed by Israel”. Israeli-Turkish ties witnessed tensions during this year after nine Turkish activists were martyred on May 31, 2010 when Israeli occupation forces raided the “Freedom” flotilla aimed at breaking Israeli blockade on Gaza. Lately it seemed the two sides were once again growing closer. On the other hand, Arab masses may consider the move as an attempt by Erdogan to attain their satisfaction, especially after he refused earlier to send another “Freedom” Flotilla to the besieged Gaza residents. However, many commentators believe the Turkish PM is paying a “double game” through repairing ties with Israel and establishing good relation with the Arabs. KHUORY: TURKEY TO REPAIR TIES WITH ISRAEL AND TO PRESERVE ARABIC POPULARITY For his part, the expert in Turkish affairs, Ernest Khoury, says the two viewpoints (repairing ties with Israel and the Arabs) don’t contradict since Turkey looks to the issues through diplomacy. In a phone call with Al-Manar Website, Khoury noted that Erdogan’s declaration came on the eve of the conciliation between Turkey and Israel. “According to my expectations and information, the conciliation will take place between Turkey and Israel. However, Erdogan will preserve his popularity in the Arab arena,” he said. Khoury added that Turkey has accepted the offer from the United States to go with the conciliation with Israel. “The U.S. is offering Turkey to take a mediation role between the Palestinian rivals. It has offered Turkey to host a conference echoing Oslo conference”. Khoury , who is also a writer in the Lebanese daily al-Akhbar, pointed out that Erdogan would go to Gaza through Rafah crossing, “and not through Erez crossing”, stressing that the ties between Israel and Turkey “will not be the same as they were before May 31”. “Turkey intends to keep itself at a same distance from both Israel and the Arab world”. Answering a question about whether Erdogan was playing a “double game”, Khoury said: “ we, the Arabs, call it a double game, but the Turks call it 'diplomacy.' Turkey said it clearly before it has an attempt to make conciliation even with Armenia and Greece.”

Source: Al-Manar Website

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