Turkey proposes mediation between Israel, the Palestinian Authority

Turkey has expressed its readiness to use its close relations with each of Israel and the Palestinian Authority in order to revive the Middle East peace process, considering that its close relations with the two sides make of it a privileged mediator.

The Turkish foreign minister Abdullah Gul said in a statement to the Turkish daily Hurriet before his visit to the Middle East that he sees an "opportunity for achieving peace in the Middle East for the first time since the failure of the Camp David talks in 2000."

Gul added that Turkey will use all its power and knowledge and also all open and secret diplomatic channels to contribute to the peace process, considering that what he considered the friendship relations Ankara maintain with the Palestinian and Israeli sides "offers her a privilege to make the mediation."