Report: Turkey seeks active role in Hamas-Fatah reconciliation
Palestinian sources tell Al-Jazeera Ankara's request part of general goal to play greater role in Arab-Israeli peace process; Egypt's response unknown
Turkey has officially asked Egypt to be involved in the ongoing reconciliation talks between rival factions Hamas and Fatah, Palestinian sources told Al-Jazeera Thursday.
According to the sources, Turkey's request is part of its general objective to play a greater role in the Arab-Israeli peace process. Turkey is in contact with both Israel and the Palestinian Authority, and hosted last year's indirect negotiations between Jerusalem and Damascus, which were suspended when Israel launched an offensive against Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip in late December.
Al-Jazeera also quoted the Palestinian sources as saying that the request was relayed to Egyptian Intelligence chief Omar Suleiman, adding that Turkey also asked Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to urge Cairo to permit Ankara to intervene in the talks.
The sources did not mention whether Egypt responded positively to Turkey's request.
About a week ago Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Syrian President Bashar Assad that his country was willing to resume its role as mediator in the indirect talks between Israel and Syria.
"We should be ready" to relaunch the talks, he said. "We are determined to do all we can for peace in the Middle East."
