Leaving for Damascus. Erdogan
Photo: AFP
Turkey ready to mediate in Israel-Syria talks
Erdogan says Ankara willing to resume mediation role, but claims Israeli leaders believe he is biased against Israel
Turkey's prime minister says his country is ready to resume mediating indirect peace talks between Syria and Israel if both countries request it.
Israeli Government
Roni Sofer
Ayalon says Turkish mediation in peace talks between Jerusalem and Damascus was a mistake, 'as it affected our relations'
But Recep Tayyip Erdogan says that while Syria wants Turkey's mediation, Israeli leaders believe the Turkish premier is biased against Israel and cannot be a fair mediator.
Erdogan was speaking late Tuesday before departing for a visit to Damascus.
Turkey mediated several rounds of indirect talks last year before they came to a halt following Israel's Gaza offensive. Ties between Israel and Turkey have deteriorated since then with Erdogan harshly criticizing Israeli policies.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has also said his country was ready to facilitate a resumption of Syrian-Israeli talks.
