Tel Aviv May Reject Turkey's Call For Two-State Solution Talks, Palestinian Foreign Minister: The Problem Is Israel

JAKARTA - Israel may oppose Turkey's goodwill approach to the concretization of a two-state solution and political negotiations with the Palestinians, the country's Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki said.

“Turkey always wants to be proactive, try to solve problems. The problem is not Turkey or Palestine, the problem is Israel," al-Maliki told Anadolu Agency, quoted by Daily Sabah May 24.

Saying Tel Aviv rejected Palestinian-Israeli negotiations, al-Maliki recalled Prime Minister Naftali Bennett voicing his opposition to a two-state solution, negotiations and a sovereign Palestinian state.

Al-Maliki said he did not believe the initiative initiated by Turkey or any other country would be retaliated by Israel.

"We should be able to see that relations between Turkey and Israel are mature, that Turkey can pressure Israel to serve the Palestinian people," al-Maliki explained, noting that he would discuss with Foreign Minister Mevlüt Cavuşoğlu where these relations are headed, how Ankara is aiming. to liberate Palestine from this stalemate, how to end the problems resulting from the ongoing Israeli occupation.

Talking about bilateral relations with Turkey, al-Maliki said that the relations are based on historical and solid reasons.

"We work together to remove the oppression, grievances of the Palestinian people and to protect their rights," he said.

Al-Maliki said Palestine welcomed the visit of a large delegation from Turkey and an agreement was expected to be signed after the second round of the Turkey-Palestine Joint Committee.

This week, Foreign Minister Cavuşoğlu will travel to Israel and Palestine. Foreign Minister Cavuşoğlu announced he would visit Israel on May 25 amid increasing efforts between regional rivals to improve relations, four years after they expelled their ambassador.

Turkey's top diplomat said he will travel to Israel and Palestine with Energy Minister Fatih Dönmez on May 24 and will discuss the appointment of an ambassador with his Israeli counterpart during the visit. Energy cooperation is expected to be another topic on the agenda.

It is known, Turkey and Israel have recently tried to open a new chapter in their relationship, which was marked by the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog and his meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara last March.

Palestinian Ambassador to Turkey Faed Mustafa said the recent rapprochement between Turkey and Israel was of no concern to the Palestinians, highlighting the support of the Turkish government and people for the Palestinian cause will continue.

"We don't think it (Israel-Turkey relations) will have a negative impact. We respect Turkey's choice. We respect Turkey's sovereignty. Turkey decides for itself with whom it has relations or not," he said.

"However, opening up to Israel, will not please us either from Turkey or any other country in the world. Because Israel, for us, is an occupying state. This occupying state must be surrounded and accounted for for its crimes," the envoy stressed.

"We believe that Turkey supports the Palestinian people. Turkey's attitude is honest, strong and steady. Our trust in Turkey is very big," he said.