Arab League denounces Israeli - Turkish military maneuvers

The Arab League denounced Turkey's intention to hold military joint maneuvers with Israel next week, considering it an unacceptable matter leading to more strain and tension in the region.

The assistant secretary general for Arab League political affairs, Mohammed Zakeria Ismael, said that within such circumstances, the Israeli - Turkish military alliance cannot serve the peace process at all but rather harm it and encourage Israel to increase its obstinate attitude.

The ambassador called on all Arabs states are denouncing these maneuvers, especially because US peace process coordinator Dennis Ross is still in the region trying to move this process forward.

However, there is little any optimism from the Palestinians or from Egypt, which rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's efforts to convince it to side with the Israeli positions on these regional matters.

Ismael expressed his belief that statements about the participation of some Arab parties in this alliance is false and untrue, pointing out that the Arab League council in its meetings next Wednesday on the foreign minister level will give great importance to this subject.