“We want to see all the abductees return to their homes, then we can talk about mediation”
Israel’s ambassador to Turkey, Irit Lilian, assessed today that it is too early to talk about a mediation proposal between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, adding that the attacks showed that Hamas apparently has no presence in Turkey or elsewhere.
In an online briefing to reporters after Turkey said it was in contact with all parties involved and said it was ready for de-escalation, Lilian said Israel’s priority was its response to the attack.
“Mediation comes at a different time. Right now, unfortunately, we are counting the dead, trying to treat the wounded, we don’t even know how many citizens have been kidnapped,” he commented.
“We want to see all the abductees return to their homes and we want peace and quiet to return to Israel and the region. Then we can talk about mediation and who will be the players in that mediation.”
The flare-up comes as Turkey, which has backed Palestinians in the past, hosted members of Hamas and supported a two-state solution to the conflict, works to restore ties with Israel after years of hostility.
Ankara does not consider Hamas a terrorist organization.
Asked about the presence of Hamas members in Turkey, Lilian replied that a senior official of the Islamist group, Saleh al-Aruri, was sometimes seen at events in Turkey and added that he should be tried for crimes against humanity.
“I think it just reinforces our view that Hamas should not have an office or any kind of activity, either in Turkey or anywhere else in the world,” he said. “There is no place for terrorists to direct actions from any country in the world.”
The Turkish Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the presence of Hamas officials in Turkey.
On Sunday, Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus, while repeating Ankara’s earlier call for restraint, said Palestinians had long suffered injustices, specifically at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque, which he called a “red line.”
Lilian commented that Israel expected more empathy from Turkey, a country that has suffered armed attacks for decades, but added that “good constructive” dialogue between the countries in the “next day” would shed light on the prospect of rapprochement.
“I think it’s a bit hard to say,” Lilian said when asked if bilateral relations would be affected, adding that some comments from Ankara came as a “surprise”.
“I think the relations between Israel and Turkey, which have started a warming process, should not be affected by yesterday’s attack and by the ongoing war on terror,” he added.
He also said that the Israeli embassy is in contact with the Turkish authorities regarding threats and calls for demonstrations and the use of violence.
Source :Skai
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