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Israel and Turkey in quiet talks to end diplomatic crisis in days By Barak Ravid Tags: Turkey, Erdogan, Gaza  Israel and Turkey are involved in quiet but intensive talks to end the crisis in relations between the two countries. According to a senior Jerusalem source, officials from both countries have exchanged messages regarding the need to restore relations to an even keel and hope to do so in the coming days. The communication exchange follows a letter that Turkish President Abdullah Gul sent President Shimon Peres a few weeks ago, in which he expressed the desire to visit Israel in the coming months. The senior government official said the positive messages increased after Israel wrote the Turkish prime minister's bureau and the Turkish army that Maj. Gen. Avi Mizrachi had been reprimanded for criticizing Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a lecture. After receiving clarifications, Turkey told Israel it viewed the matter as closed. Advertisement The messages sent by Israel and Turkey stressed the strategic value of their relationship. Relations between Ankara and Jerusalem have been strained since Operation Cast Lead, but the rancor reached a new high during a public debate between Peres and Erdogan at the Davos Forum in Switzerland last month. In response to Erdogan's sharp public criticism, Peres raised his voice and hinted that Erdogan's statements contained untruths. Erdogan angrily stalked offstage in response. Relations between Ankara and Jerusalem have been strained since Operation Cast Lead. Erdogan was reportedly insulted when Prime Minister Ehud Olmert visited Ankara a few days before the operation and did not tell him about his plans. Erdogan said Olmert had "betrayed him and stabbed him in the back," and began to sharply criticize Israel, saying Israel had committed war crimes in Gaza and calling on United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to have Israel ousted from the UN. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Bulldozer attack Two policemen hurt in bulldozer terror attack in Jerusalem. 'Lapdancegate' Witch-hunt of Navy chief over strip club visit misses the point.   1.   Turkey is stabbing Israel in the back 08:50  |  American 05/03/09   2.   Turkey Needs To Apologize Publicly To Israel 10:19  |  Baruch Gold 05/03/09   3.   Apologize to Peres 10:45  |  Disgrace 05/03/09   4.   These talks are wishfull thinking. The Turks hate us. 11:30  |  Jew 05/03/09   5.   all look at Turks as bad guys without knowing us 12:33  |  erol 05/03/09   6.   Turks are hypocrites! 14:01  |  Chris Elia 05/03/09   7.   YOU GOT THAT RIGHT, JEW. 15:51  |  Petra 05/03/09   8.   To those who think Turks are Israel`s enemy. 16:11  |  Anon 05/03/09   9.   To #6 from a Turkish Cypriot 16:50  |  Turkish Cypriot 05/03/09   10.   Olmert insulted Turkiye frist 20:03  |  KO 05/03/09   11.   Israel-Turkey 21:16  |  Oktay Balamir 05/03/09

Read & React Terrorist rams tractor into police car, bus in Jerusalem Responses: 103 Britain re-establishing contact with Hezbollah Responses: 80 Proposal in Congress: No Gilad Shalit, no Gaza aid Responses: 130 Head of Palestinian rights group banned from travelling to accept award Responses: 46 More Headlines 22:47 Rocket hits synagogue in Netivot; IAF bombs Gaza tunnels 21:26 Livni, Turkish FM hold secret reconciliation talks 23:43 Italy pulls out of Durban II over 'anti-Semitic' draft statement 22:49 Two policemen hurt in bulldozer terror attack in Jerusalem 23:32 Navy chief says he won't resign over strip club visit 23:39 Group to protest Israel troupe's N.Y. show with dance of its own 00:48 Israel envoy to U.S. ends term on tense note 21:43 WATCH: Daily news round-up from Israel 19:01 Proposal in Congress: No Gilad Shalit, no Gaza aid 19:51 Britain re-establishing contact with Hezbollah 19:13 Hamas: Bulldozer attack 'natural response' to Israeli aggression 21:33 Jerusalem mayor rejects Clinton's criticism of house demolitions 21:53 Talansky: Israel sent U.S. material for probe against me Previous Editions Select Day 05 mar 04 mar 03 mar 02 mar 01 mar 27 feb 26 feb 25 feb 24 feb 23 feb 22 feb 20 feb

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