Report: Turkey urged to use Hamas ties
Turkish newspaper report suggests US senators asked Erdogan to play role in efforts to solve Israeli-Palestinian conflict, bring Hamas to negotiating table
A group of US senators told Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan over the weekend that only Ankara can convince Hamas to join talks between Israel and the Palestinians, Turkish newspaper Hurriyet reported.
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According to the report, Erdogan told John McCain, Joe Lieberman and Lindsay Graham that Turkey will try to persuade Hamas to return to the negotiating table if the group is given an incentive.
The Turkish PM added that he may extend his upcoming visit to Egypt to include a visit to the Palestinian Authority. Previous Turkish reports suggest Erdogan plans to enter Gaza via the Rafah crossing.
The US senators discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with Erdogan in a meeting held over the weekend.
The Turkish premier claimed that a peace agreement will be virtually impossible to achieve without Hamas being included in talks. The US delegation responded that Turkey may be the only country to bring Hamas to the negotiating table.
Erdogan and Abbas in Ankara (Photo: Reuters)
After the meeting Senator Graham expressed hope that Turkey will play a role in solving the conflict and added that Erdogan is the "most impressive speaker in the region."
Erdogan met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ankara 10 days ago, and promised to work to garner support for the recognition of a Palestinian state.
He declared that his country is willing to support efforts to form a Palestinian unity government.
On Sunday, Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Turkey is playing a role in efforts to secure a deal between Israel and Hamas which will see the return of captive soldier Gilad Shalit.
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