Israel denies reported progress on Turkey-mediated peace track with Syria

Israel on Tuesday rejected a reported announcement by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan that the Jewish state has agreed to let Turkey continue mediating peace talks with Syria, according to local daily The Jerusalem Post.

Erdogan reportedly made the remarks during a visit to Saudi Arabia, where he told reporters that the stalled peace talks between the Jewish state and its northern Arab neighbor might resume very soon, with Turkey acting as the intermediary just like two years ago.

In response, the Israeli newspaper quoted an official in the Prime Minister's Office as saying that no decision has been made in this regard.

Meanwhile, the official added that the Israeli side would appreciate Ankara's aspirations if Turkey is interested in strengthening relations with Israel and promoting regional stability and peace.

Talks between Israel and Syria, technically still at war, resumed in 2008 under Turkish mediation, yet no breakthrough had been achieved before the process broke down once again when the Jewish state launched a destructive military operation against the Gaza Strip at the end of that year.

The Turkish government has since repeatedly condemned Israel over the offensive, which left about 1,400 Palestinians dead along with 13 Israeli fatalities. Ties between the two countries have been so strained that Israel once declared that Turkey was no longer a suitable mediator for its talks with Damascus.

Source: Xinhua