President, PM call Israel to withdraw for a lasting peace
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Hürriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Ocak 19, 2009 00:00
ANKARA - Only a few hours before a summit in Egypt aimed at giving international backing to the cease-fire, Turkey's political leaders yesterday called for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.
The objective now is "to ensure that the cease-fire becomes mutual and durable and that Israel withdraws entirely from Gaza," President Abdullah Gül told reporters at Ankara's Esenboğa airport before departing for Egypt to attend an international summit on Gaza.
The summit at the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh came after the Israeli announcement of a unilateral cease-fire early Sunday and was attended by the leaders of Germany, France, Spain, Britain, Italy, Turkey and the Czech Republic, which holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, as well as Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon. Hamas has not been invited.
Lasting peace
Speaking after a joint press conference following the summit hosted by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Gül said ensuring a lasting peace was a must. "Without a lasting peace, such pains will occur once every two years," he said, recalling the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Gül urged the international community to prepare a convenient atmosphere where the states of Palestine and Israel would live in peace. "That must be the priority of the world," he said. Gül also highlighted that unity was a must among the Palestinians.
In brief remarks before departing for Brussels, Erdoğan said: "I hope the summit will be the first initial step and Israel will withdraw its troops, which are still in Gaza." In Brussels he is scheduled to meet with the EU's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, to discuss the current situation in the Middle East and later to be accompanied by Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, who flew to Egypt with Gül.
Gül said the Israeli decision to unilaterally halt the 22-day military offensive early Sunday constituted a positive initial step and expressed the hope that the summit in Egypt would contribute to peace.
For his part, Erdoğan said Israel's unilateral halt of the offensive was important but warned the presence of the Israeli troops was raising concern. Israel had already responded to several rockets fired from the Hamas-run enclave after the announcement, he said.
"We see Israel not complying with the resolution of the U.N. Security Council calling for cease-fire. Israeli tanks are still in Gaza and it is not clear how long they will stay," Erdoğan said.
"I hope that Israel will pull out its forces from Gaza as soon as possible, the border crossings (with Gaza) will be opened, humanitarian aid will flow to Gaza and the people of Gaza will return to normal life," he added.
Erdoğan said one of the reasons for the current conflict was the fact that Hamas was not accepted at the negotiating table. "Hamas is the name of a political party that won the electionÉ The West, who have not respected a democratic opening, is also responsible," he said.
Meanwhile, the Agence France-Presse reporting from Sharm el-Sheikh, said that six European leaders attending the summit have been invited to dine with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. "All the European leaders have been invited and should take part in this dinner," a European diplomat said. Leaders from France, Britain, Germany, Italy, Spain and the Czech Republic were expected to join the dinner, while President Gül was not on the list.
The summit at the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh came after the Israeli announcement of a unilateral cease-fire early Sunday and was attended by the leaders of Germany, France, Spain, Britain, Italy, Turkey and the Czech Republic, which holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, as well as Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon. Hamas has not been invited.
Lasting peace
Speaking after a joint press conference following the summit hosted by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Gül said ensuring a lasting peace was a must. "Without a lasting peace, such pains will occur once every two years," he said, recalling the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Gül urged the international community to prepare a convenient atmosphere where the states of Palestine and Israel would live in peace. "That must be the priority of the world," he said. Gül also highlighted that unity was a must among the Palestinians.
In brief remarks before departing for Brussels, Erdoğan said: "I hope the summit will be the first initial step and Israel will withdraw its troops, which are still in Gaza." In Brussels he is scheduled to meet with the EU's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, to discuss the current situation in the Middle East and later to be accompanied by Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, who flew to Egypt with Gül.
Gül said the Israeli decision to unilaterally halt the 22-day military offensive early Sunday constituted a positive initial step and expressed the hope that the summit in Egypt would contribute to peace.
For his part, Erdoğan said Israel's unilateral halt of the offensive was important but warned the presence of the Israeli troops was raising concern. Israel had already responded to several rockets fired from the Hamas-run enclave after the announcement, he said.
"We see Israel not complying with the resolution of the U.N. Security Council calling for cease-fire. Israeli tanks are still in Gaza and it is not clear how long they will stay," Erdoğan said.
"I hope that Israel will pull out its forces from Gaza as soon as possible, the border crossings (with Gaza) will be opened, humanitarian aid will flow to Gaza and the people of Gaza will return to normal life," he added.
Erdoğan said one of the reasons for the current conflict was the fact that Hamas was not accepted at the negotiating table. "Hamas is the name of a political party that won the electionÉ The West, who have not respected a democratic opening, is also responsible," he said.
Meanwhile, the Agence France-Presse reporting from Sharm el-Sheikh, said that six European leaders attending the summit have been invited to dine with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. "All the European leaders have been invited and should take part in this dinner," a European diplomat said. Leaders from France, Britain, Germany, Italy, Spain and the Czech Republic were expected to join the dinner, while President Gül was not on the list.