PERES STEPS IN TO SOFTEN JEWISH LOBBY’S BACKLASH OVER HAMAS VISIT
Senem Caglayan – The New Anatolian / Ankara
New Anatolian, Turkey
March 7 2006
Israeli moderate leader Peres takes mediator role between Turkey and
American Jewish lobby as Jewish groups criticize Ankara over Hamas
visit. In his meeting with Jewish representatives, Peres asks for
continued support for Turkey, which is significant ahead of April 24,
anniversary of so-called Armenian genocide.
Robert Wexler, pro-Turkish Congressman, will visit Turkey on
Thursday to express behind the closed doors Washington’s concerns
and disappointment over the visit of Hamas.
Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Tuygan goes to Israel to meet his
Israel counterpart and discuss bilateral relations, recent regional
and intl developments.
Shimon Peres, a moderate Israeli political leader and prominent figure
in the leading Kadima party, last week took a mediating role between
Turkey and the American Jewish lobby during his visit to Washington.,
trying to soften negative reaction to last month’s Hamas visit to
Ankara, diplomatic sources told The New Anatolian.
Peres’s visit with the representatives of Jewish lobby was significant
ahead of April 24, the so- called anniversary of the Armenian
“genocide,” when the Armenian lobby steps up its campaign for the
recognition of the so-called genocide in the U.S. Congress.
The Jewish lobby so far backed Turkish efforts to block any resolution
referring to Armenian genocide claims. But following the Turkish
government’s meeting with Hamas representatives last month, important
members of the American Jewish lobby strongly criticized Ankara and
gave signs of withdrawing this key support.
The exiled political leader of Hamas, Khaled Mashaal, visited Ankara
last month, triggering a diplomatic rift between Israel and Turkey.
Ankara rejected Israeli criticism of the visit and said an Israeli
spokesman’s comparison of the Palestinian group to Kurdish guerrillas
in Turkey was an “unfortunate statement.” Later the Turkish and Israeli
prime ministers talked on the phone and agreed not to let disagreement
on Hamas ruin the overall relations and bilateral cooperation which
is significant for both countries.
Jewish-American groups were very furious with Ankara over the Hamas
visit, suggesting that the Turkish government’s move to engage with
the radical group would “lead to consequences.” U.S. Congressman Tom
Lantos, a Jewish-American who is the only Holocaust survivor ever
to serve in the U.S. Congress, sent a protest letter to Erdogan due
to his party’s talks with Hamas. Lantos warned that the meeting with
Hamas would seriously damage Turkey’s national interests, its fight
against terrorism and relations with the United States.
Critical visit from US Congressman Wexler to Turkey
While Ankara tried to ease the concerns of Jewish lobby through
several meetings, it also finalized preparations to host an important
U.S. delegation chaired by Congressman Robert Wexler.
Wexler, who is Jewish and also chairman of Turkish-American Caucus that
supports Turkey against the Armenian “genocide” motions, will begin
his contacts in Ankara on Thursday. According to sources Wexler will
express behind closed doors Washington’s concerns and disappointment
over the visit of Hamas.
Ankara, for its part, is expected to clarify the reasons for
organizing the visit of Hamas to Turkey and explain in detail the
messages conveyed to Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal during the visit,
sources added. Turkish officials will also seek the continuation
of Wexler’s support for efforts to block Armenian genocide claim
resolutions in Congress, the sources said.
Turkish undersecretary to visit Israel
The Turkish Foreign Ministry announced yesterday that the
Undersecretary Ambassador Ali Tuygan went to Israel on Monday for
a two-day visit. Tuygan will meet with his Israel counterpart Ron
Prosor today to discuss bilateral relations, recent regional and
international developments, the statement added.