Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has visited the Al Haram Al-Sharif complex during the second day of his Middle East tour. He was welcomed at the complex where former the Egyptian Minister Ahmed Tahir was killed in a Palestinian attack two years ago.
Islam Association Director Adnan Hussein and Masjid Al-Aqsa officials have presented a Koran to Prime Minister Erdogan.
Attention was also drawn to the Israeli guards at the complex where any non-Muslims are forbidden to enter.
A Palestinian, approached the Prime Minister, and said, "Please, protect the masjid." Erdogan spoke with local children who chanted slogans and made the V-sign for victory.
Erdogan later visited and prayed at Masjid Al-Aqsa and Qubbet Al-Sahra where it is believed that the Prophet Mohammed ascended into the sky.
The complex's foundation Chief Abdilazim Selah told Erdogan, "Your visit here has given us strength and drive. Here is not only a dome but also the symbol of our religion; it is a part of our belief. We cannot budge even a centimeter from this site or hand it over to others, we cannot divide and separate."
Foundation Director Adnan Hussein also said, "Aqsa Mosque will be protected until doomsday. It is the duty of all Muslims to protect this site."
Meanwhile Israel Refuses Turkey's Offer for Mediation.
The mediation role that Turkey could play in bringing regional peace marked the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's two days contacts in Israel and Palestine.
Expressing his thoughts on a withdraw from fighting and violence to the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon Erdogan offered Syria as an example during their meeting the other day: "Syria sheltered the organizations conducting terrorist activities against Turkey for many years. About 40,000 Turkish people died martyrs, but today we have opened a new page with Syria. You can do the same thing with Palestine."
While Israel refused offer to act as a mediator Turkey, Palestine gave support to the notion. Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, who Erdogan also met with, said that they were opposed to political mediation; however, Turkey might support the Palestinians in the fields of economics and humanitarian issues. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas meeting with Erdogan in Ramallah yesterday (May 2) supported Ankara's mediation suggestion, saying, "We expect the sibling state, Turkey, both assist with an economic and political contribution."
Prime Minister Erdogan met with the leader of the Palestinian National Authority Abbas and the Prime Minister Ahmad Qurey at the Muqataa Compound in Ramallah. Responding to questions from members of the media at a joint conference, Erdogan indicated that in case of an Israeli and Palestinian invitation for Turkey to mediate between them, Turkey was capable of fulfilling the task. Mentioning the Israeli announcement that Turkey did not have a political role in the region; however, that it might contribute economically, Erdogan said: "Esteemed Sharon expressed at a joint news conference yesterday that Turkey will make very significant contributions towards the peace process, on the contrary; however, I can not say here what the content of that assistance will be."
Dealing with the military relations between Israel and Turkey, an Al Jazeera television reporter asked: "You announced during your contacts yesterday that a telephone line between Israel and Turkey will be established. What kind of mediation role will Turkey have in such a case?" Erdogan underlined that the direct telephone line request came from Sharon, and went on:
"We do not have any restriction about the international direct telephone line. There is no such a trouble between us and Palestine. We think that our relations with Israel will speed up that process. The leaders of both countries think that Turkey might be able to play a significant role particularity because of these excellent relations."
ZamanOnline
Our button
print version
