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Last update - 09:24 18/10/2009
Netanyahu: Turkey can't be 'honest broker' in Syria talks
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Diplomatic Crisis 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu does not want Ankara serving as mediator in any future diplomatic negotiations with Syria, in view of the crisis in relations between Israel and Turkey.

On Friday, Israel's ambassador in Ankara, Gabi Levy, officially protested to Turkey's Foreign Ministry about a drama aired on public television in which actors portrayed Israeli soldiers executing Palestinians.

The tensions became a major issue during a meeting between Netanyahu and his visiting Spanish counterpart, Jose Luis Zapatero. During the meeting, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos told Netanyahu that the Turks "will fall in line" if they serve as mediator between Israel and Syria.
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Netanyahu said he objects to Turkey resuming its role as mediator and does not see how the country can become "an honest broker" between the two sides.

During Ehud Olmert's tenure as prime minister, Turkey mediated five rounds of talks between Israeli and Syrian officials. Toward the end of Olmert's term the two sides were on the verge of resuming direct negotiations.

At the last meeting between Olmert and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish leader called Syrian President Bashar Assad and relayed messages to and from Olmert. But after Operation Cast Lead earlier this year and the freeze in negotiations with Syria, Erdogan said Olmert had stabbed him in the back.

Zapatero and Moratinos had arrived in Jerusalem from Damascus; they told Netanyahu that they were impressed by the Syrian leader's sincerity about the peace process.

"Assad is serious and more responsible," one of them reportedly told him. "He wants dialogue with the U.S. and it is possible to reach an agreement with him." Netanyahu expressed doubts, saying he saw no sign that Assad was serious.

Political sources in Jerusalem have said in recent days that in view of the growing tension between Israel and Turkey, the U.S. administration has told Turkish diplomats that restoring relations was an American interest.

Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said over the weekend that "relations with Turkey are in a difficult state but can be restored with quiet and careful diplomatic efforts."

Israel's ambassador to Ankara lodged an official protest with the Turkish Foreign Ministry during a meeting with the ministry's deputy director for the Middle East. Israel protested against the Turkish television series portraying atrocities against Palestinians by Israeli troops.

"The government and the Israeli people are disappointed and concerned by this series," ambassador Gabi Levy was quoted as saying.

Viewer ratings of the first episode of the series, however, show that interest was low, at 8 percent. "In view of the ruckus in Israel, the ratings of the second episode will rise dramatically," a source at the Foreign Ministry said.

Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said over the weekend that there had been no political intent in broadcasting the series. "The Foreign Ministry does not advise television programming," he said.

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      1.   Good Grief! After All the Years that US was not an Honest Broker 02:52  |  Ed 18/10/09
      2.   The beginning of the end 02:59  |  Fritz T. 18/10/09
      3.   Israel should team up with Steven Spielberg ... 03:20  |  Edward 18/10/09
      4.   Peace? No WAY!!!! 03:30  |  Mark Lincoln 18/10/09
      5.   "Turkey does not censor" 03:39  |  A TRUE American 18/10/09
      6.   honest broker 03:47  |  Thabiet 18/10/09
      7.   The US is not an honest broker 03:52  |  ben 18/10/09
      8.   What Took You So Long? 04:06  |  massaraksh 18/10/09
      9.   Israel doesn`t really want peace.. 04:12  |  Indian 18/10/09
      10.   natanyahoo doesn`t like anyone 04:13  |  taking you w/him 18/10/09
      11.   Turkey as a mediator 04:25  |  Luiz Felipe Haddad 18/10/09
      12.   Why Israel? Why now? 04:54  |  Ami ben Abraam 18/10/09
      13.   Assad`s position is clear, and he is quite serious... 04:57  |  BBSNews 18/10/09
      14.   The Jews simply don`t want peace just land grab! 05:05  |  Sam 18/10/09
      15.   Is Bibi`s slap in the face to Turkey wise? 05:11  |  Conroy 18/10/09
      16.   bibi is a little man who lets little stuff bother him 05:11  |  and the big stuff? 18/10/09
      17.   Non-kosher turkey 05:30  |  Dudka 18/10/09
      18.   Nor is Israel 05:32  |  Vladek 18/10/09
      19.   lighten up bibi!! 05:48  |  you will live longer 18/10/09
      20.   World: US cannot be a honest broker in ME 06:00  |  John 18/10/09
      21.   Turkey Yok 06:44  |  Bibi`s supporter 18/10/09
      22.   land grab 06:55  |  Philip 18/10/09
      23.   #8 john and how to be naive about the world 08:08  |  vhardman 18/10/09
      24.   calm down people ehud barak will solve problem 08:10  |  heretic 18/10/09
      25.   Turkey as a "broker" 08:16  |  DT 18/10/09
      26.   Netanyahu: Turkey can`t be `honest broker` 08:18  |  MJ 18/10/09
      27.   This is a diversion from troubles with Iran 08:38  |  lily 18/10/09
      28.   "LAND GRAB"???? 08:40  |  yona 18/10/09
      29.   Only Bibi Wants Peace 08:56  |  MB 18/10/09
      30.   All who are righteous 09:01  |  Chappaqua neighbor 18/10/09
      31.   Ha, ha, Israel and complaining about (non) "honest brokers".... 09:01  |  Swiss (Dino) 18/10/09
      32.   what does netanyahu have to talk about with syria? 09:10  |  eric 18/10/09
      33.   what a cry baby 09:32  |  yezmar 18/10/09
      34.   How do you define an honest broker..? 09:36  |  Stephen. 18/10/09
      35.   #10 Turkey as an honest broker. 09:37  |  Highlander 18/10/09
      36.   Turkey cannot be an impartial mediator 09:44  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 18/10/09
      37.   Good for Bibi showing self respect with our "friend" Turkey 10:04  |  Kenny 18/10/09
      38.   NOBODY IS GOOD ENOUGH 10:20  |  Mark of Lewiston 18/10/09
      39.   Turkey feel betrayed by Olmert! We are thankful to Swiss! 10:32  |  Fatih 18/10/09
      40.   Conroy #4 10:49  |  MR 18/10/09
      41.   About the Turkish TV Drama "separation" 10:50  |  Mehmet Saydam 18/10/09
      42.   #17, Mark 11:00  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 18/10/09
      43.   HIGHLANDER Turkish govt "has ties with Hamas"-Al Ahram, 11:34  |  PETER SM 18/10/09
      44.   well, duh!?! 11:39  |  David 18/10/09
      45.   20 Cipora - You`re Dead Wrong 11:43  |  Mark of Lewiston 18/10/09
      46.   Broker? 12:09  |  Ali 18/10/09
      47.   ISrael never wanted to give the Golan Heights 12:11  |  Chris Linthwaite 18/10/09
      48.   Turkey would be useless as a mediator 12:17  |  r cummings 18/10/09
      49.   No-one is good enough, Mark 12:18  |  sh 18/10/09
      50.   #21-PETER 12:18  |  Cengiz 18/10/09
      51.   Excuse me? 12:25  |  Gully Foyle 18/10/09
      52.   MR 12:25  |  Conroy 18/10/09
      53.   PM stated obvious. 12:43  |  17 18/10/09
      54.   Why is a broker necesary? 12:50  |  Ilan 18/10/09
      55.   Israel will eventuallly stand alone 12:57  |  Thabiet 18/10/09
      56.   Let Turkey mediate between Spanish Govt and Basque heroes 12:59  |  Alan 18/10/09
      57.   Israel does not need an "honest broker" 13:11  |  Gokhan 18/10/09
      58.   Israel does not need an "honest broker" 13:16  |  Gokhan 18/10/09
      59.   What about the relations with Turkey-Israel? 13:17  |  Rob 18/10/09
      60.   Israel needs to be an Honest Partner first 13:39  |  Tim 18/10/09
      61.   The days of the Cold War are over ... 13:48  |  Akram Zekaria 18/10/09
      62.   TURKEY NEVER ACTED LIKE AN HONEST BROKER NOW THEY DID BIBI A FAVO 13:51  |  zionist forever 18/10/09
      63.   Cengiz 13:52  |  PETER SM 18/10/09
      64.   Thabiet since when is the 1967 borders the final border? 14:13  |  PETER SM 18/10/09
      65.   Why Israel ? Why now ? 14:26  |  Shahab Mohd Altaf 18/10/09
      66.   3 14:26  |  zionist forever 18/10/09
      67.   Was that supposed to be a favor to Turkey? 15:10  |  Druid 18/10/09
      68.   And after their conduct last Friday, neither can Britain orFrance 15:20  |  A.J. Myers 18/10/09
      69.   Who is `good enough`? 15:46  |  Or Can 18/10/09
      70.   Turkey is a dishonest broker and a land grabber in Kurdistan 15:46  |  Realist 18/10/09
      71.   Grapes and Kurds 15:53  |  Or Can 18/10/09
      72.   No peace, no way, now go to hell Turkey 15:58  |  Mark Lincoln 18/10/09
      73.   To PETER SM - from Melbourne 16:05  |  Or Can 18/10/09
      74.   PSM Were you angry when palestinian family was 16:14  |  LABHRAS 18/10/09
      75.   PSM Were you angry when palestinian family was 16:15  |  LABHRAS 18/10/09
      76.   Turkish government neither honest nor a broker 16:19  |  Morris Valentine 18/10/09
      77.   honest broker? 16:22  |  oz 18/10/09
      78.   Israeli error 16:32  |  Neil 18/10/09
      79.   23~Mark of Lewiston.. Let us talk about Obama ! 16:36  |  Akram Zekaria 18/10/09
      80.   Turkey Can`t be an Honest Broker 17:23  |  Denis C. Gray 18/10/09
      81.   AJ Meyers--if you dont like the british acting in their own 18:00  |  Labhras 18/10/09
      82.   PETER 18:10  |  Cengiz 18/10/09
      83.   Bibi doesn`t think the US is an objective mediator either. 18:11  |  Dave 18/10/09
      84.   Turkey a dishonest broker 18:23  |  Texan 18/10/09
      85.   Nobody likes Bibi`s Israel. 18:46  |  Michael 18/10/09
      86.   Peter SM: `"Turkey`s Old ties to Hamas"` 18:59  |  Highlander 18/10/09
      87.   Gokhan from Istanbul 19:08  |  David Isarel 18/10/09
      88.   Cengiz from the pearl of the Aegean 19:10  |  David Israel 18/10/09
      89.   Speaking when sane persons would remain silent 19:17  |  sh 18/10/09
      90.   Cengiz Izmirli hemserim take it easy and real 19:21  |  David Isarel 18/10/09
      91.   Luiz Felipe Haddad - You are behind Trkish History 19:27  |  David Israel 18/10/09
      92.   Akram Zekaria 19:29  |  Im fair 18/10/09
      93.   Luiz Felipe Haddad - you are behind Turkish History 19:43  |  David Israel 18/10/09
      94.   Honest Broker 19:44  |  AM 18/10/09
      95.   Does the individual who is only prepared to use a pseudonym 19:50  |  A.J. Myers 18/10/09
      96.   To Mister Stephen in Geneva #??? 20:17  |  The Judge 18/10/09
      97.   Turkey is quite honest! 20:31  |  Dogru Soyler 18/10/09
      98.   77 Akram Zekaria - Talking Obama 20:31  |  Mark of Lewiston 18/10/09
      99.   98~ Mark of Lewiston : "NOTHING MORE" 22:17  |  Akram Zekaria 18/10/09
      100.   #76, Morris Valentine, exactly 22:18  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 18/10/09
      101.   If that is the case Mark Lincoln@4 then you should be: 23:14  |  A fervent Zionist 18/10/09
      102.   First let Turkey go back to what Kemal Ataturk did to: 23:22  |  Hayir Yalancidirlar 18/10/09
      103.   Dogru soylemez 00:14  |  David Israel 19/10/09
      104.   OR CAN normally Turkey would be the ideal choice for broker 01:20  |  PETER SM 19/10/09
      105.   Mr.Morris Valentine @76 Spoken like a true patriot. 01:23  |  Benny 19/10/09
      106.   Cengiz 01:34  |  PETER SM 19/10/09
      107.   please ,see, what is Turkey?? 01:36  |  khalil 19/10/09
      108.   So Israel does not want Turkey as a broker 01:49  |  Gokhan 19/10/09
      109.   Netanyahu means... 02:38  |  Hugh 19/10/09
      110.   GHORKAN why dont you read the Islamist Hamas charter 09:08  |  PETER SM 19/10/09
      111.   HUGH he means islamists tied to Hamas are not exactly unbiased 09:13  |  PETER SM 19/10/09
      112.   When it walks like a duck and Quacks like a duck its a Turkey 09:27  |  Disgusted 19/10/09
      113.   Peter SM: Read the whole article you gave link for... 19:35  |  Highlander 20/10/09
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