An Israeli minister said Sunday that Turkey is unlikely to become a mediator in the renewal of the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians as some media reports have claimed, Israeli Army Radio reported.

Israeli Minister of Intelligence and Strategic Affairs Yuval Steinitz dismissed as "baseless" Turkish daily Hurriyet's report that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry would ask Turkey to play a key role in the talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

Steinitz added "If anybody does mediate the talks, it would be the international Quartet," referring to the mediating group comprising the United States, Russia, the UN and the EU

However, before Kerry set off to Turkey, U.S. State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said the U.S. administration expressed its desire for Turkey to play a key role in the upcoming diplomatic developments.

A high-ranking Israeli diplomatic source requested anonymity told Xinhua that there is little chance that Turkey would play such a role because Israel does not trust its Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The source pointed out that the Turkish leader has been an outspoken critic of Israel's Operation Cast Lead against Gaza and called Zionism, the Jewish nationalism, a "war crime." Endi

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)