Erdogan: Turkish, ’Israeli’ Negotiations to Seal Deal in mid-May

Local Editor

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the "Israeli" entity and Turkey's negotiating teams will meet again in mid-May to try to reach a reconciliation deal.

Erdogan told a press briefing in Zagreb, Croatia that the two countries were discussing the establishment of a series of humanitarian projects in Gaza relating to electricity and water, as part of the negotiations surrounding Turkish demands toward "lifting the embargo" on Gaza.

Erdogan said that Turkey offered during negotiations to send a ship, anchored in the "Israeli" entity's Ashdod port, to provide electricity for Gaza to help cope with the Strip's severe energy crisis.

He said the "Israeli" entity was reluctant, and offered the establishment of a power plant within Gaza, carried out between Turkey and Germany, as an alternative project.

"We said that could be possible," said Erdogan. "We still haven't given up on the ship. "Israel" is also positive toward our proposal to address Gaza's water problem through water desalination plants or wells. There is also a need for schools and hospitals. We are seeking donors. Some have promised to contribute."

A senior official in al-Quds said that the date of the next round of "Israel"-Turkey talks, considered to be crucial, had not yet been determined but will presumably take place in mid-May.

According to the senior official, Turkey brought up the matter of sending a ship in the past but is no longer on the agenda. Instead, the "Israeli" entity suggested other humanitarian projects Turkey can perform in Gaza. The official noted that Turkey's status in Gaza concerning "Israel" will not be different from any other country.

The "Israeli" and Turkish negotiating teams met three weeks ago in London, attended by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's envoy, Joseph Ciechanover and "Israel's" deputy military adviser Jacob Nagel and Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu.

The Foreign Ministry in Ankara announced after that round that progress had been made in closing the gap toward reaching a reconciliation agreement. According to the announcement, the teams agreed that the deal would be reached in the next round of talks. One of the main issues, however, is the lack of consensus on the "Israeli" regime's demand to stop military command from Hamas' headquarters in Istanbul.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team