Turkey and the Israeli esclation

Turkey on Thursday called for the need of putting an end to the policy of escalation pursued by Israel against the Palestinian people and stressed that the crime of assassinating the secretary general of the People's Front For the Liberation of Palestine and the re-occupation of Beit Jala have all intensified tension in the region.

The Turkish prime minister Polent Acawet described the Israeli stances concerning the Palestinians as not serving the peace process in the region. He called for the need of lifting the military siege imposed on the Palestinian villages and cities.

Acawet's statement came as a reply to the message addressed to him on Wednesday by the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon.

In a statement, the Turkish foreign ministry called on the need of putting an end to the acts of escalation taking place and prepare the atmospheres to revive negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian authority.