NETANYAHU: TURKEY CAN’T BE ‘HONEST BROKER’ IN SYRIA TALKS

Panorama.am
13:53 19/10/2009

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu does not want Ankara serving
as mediator in any future diplomatic negotiations with Syria, in
view of the crisis in relations between Israel and Turkey, foreign
media reported.

On Friday, Israel’s ambassador in Ankara, Gabi Levy, officially
protested to Turkey’s Foreign Ministry about a drama aired on public
television in which actors portrayed Israeli soldiers executing
Palestinians.

The tensions became a major issue during a meeting between Netanyahu
and his visiting Spanish counterpart, Jose Luis Zapatero. During the
meeting, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos told Netanyahu
that the Turks "will fall in line" if they serve as mediator between
Israel and Syria.

Netanyahu said he objects to Turkey resuming its role as mediator and
does not see how the country can become "an honest broker" between
the two sides.

During Ehud Olmert’s tenure as prime minister, Turkey mediated five
rounds of talks between Israeli and Syrian officials. Toward the end
of Olmert’s term the two sides were on the verge of resuming direct
negotiations.