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Kerry Seeks Turkish Leader’s Patience on Gaza Kerry Seeks Turkish Leader’s Patience on Gaza
(35 minutes later)
ISTANBUL — Secretary of State John Kerry said Sunday that he had urged Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey to put off his planned visit to Gaza to avoid disrupting efforts to revive peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.ISTANBUL — Secretary of State John Kerry said Sunday that he had urged Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey to put off his planned visit to Gaza to avoid disrupting efforts to revive peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
“We have expressed to the prime minister that we really think that it would be better to delay,” Mr. Kerry said in a news conference here.“We have expressed to the prime minister that we really think that it would be better to delay,” Mr. Kerry said in a news conference here.
“The timing of it is really critical with respect to the peace process that we are trying to get off the ground,” Mr. Kerry said. “We would really like to see the parties begin with as little outside distraction as possible.”“The timing of it is really critical with respect to the peace process that we are trying to get off the ground,” Mr. Kerry said. “We would really like to see the parties begin with as little outside distraction as possible.”
Mr. Kerry, who has made three trips to the Middle East since becoming secretary of state, has also been trying to lay the ground work for renewed peace talks between Israeli and the Palestinians. Mr. Kerry recently told Congress that the window for a two-state solution — the establishment of a Palestinian state living in peace with Israel — is closing, and that it would be imperative to make progress in the next two years. Mr. Kerry, who has made three trips to the Middle East since becoming secretary of state, has also been trying to lay the groundwork for renewed peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. Mr. Kerry recently told Congress that the window for a two-state solution — the establishment of a Palestinian state living in peace with Israel — is closing, and that it would be imperative to make progress in the next two years.
Toward that end, Mr. Kerry met in Istanbul on Sunday with Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority.Toward that end, Mr. Kerry met in Istanbul on Sunday with Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority.
American efforts to get peace talks off the ground have been complicated by the resignation this month of Salaam Fayyad, the Palestinian prime minister. Mr. Kerry acknowledgment that Mr. Fayyad’s resignation was a disappointment but said that he hoped a worthy successor would be found.American efforts to get peace talks off the ground have been complicated by the resignation this month of Salaam Fayyad, the Palestinian prime minister. Mr. Kerry acknowledgment that Mr. Fayyad’s resignation was a disappointment but said that he hoped a worthy successor would be found.
At the same time, American officials have urgently tried to head off any upset in the efforts to restore Israeli-Turkey relations.At the same time, American officials have urgently tried to head off any upset in the efforts to restore Israeli-Turkey relations.
President Obama brokered a rapprochement between Israel and Turkey last month during his visit to Israel. The aim was to foster the full resumption of diplomatic relations between the two states, including the return of ambassadors.President Obama brokered a rapprochement between Israel and Turkey last month during his visit to Israel. The aim was to foster the full resumption of diplomatic relations between the two states, including the return of ambassadors.
Ties between Israel and Turkey suffered a serious setback in 2010 when the Israeli military intercepted the Mavi Marmara, a Turkish ship that was trying to run the naval blockade on supplies to Gaza, and met resistance on board. Nine activists — eight Turks and one American of Turkish descent — were killed.Ties between Israel and Turkey suffered a serious setback in 2010 when the Israeli military intercepted the Mavi Marmara, a Turkish ship that was trying to run the naval blockade on supplies to Gaza, and met resistance on board. Nine activists — eight Turks and one American of Turkish descent — were killed.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel apologized for the raid during Mr. Obama’s trip in March, and a team of Israeli officials is arriving in Turkey on Sunday to discuss compensation for the families of those killed or wounded.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel apologized for the raid during Mr. Obama’s trip in March, and a team of Israeli officials is arriving in Turkey on Sunday to discuss compensation for the families of those killed or wounded.
Mr. Erdogan has said that he planned to go to Gaza, and he is also scheduled to visit Washington and meet with Mr. Obama in May.Mr. Erdogan has said that he planned to go to Gaza, and he is also scheduled to visit Washington and meet with Mr. Obama in May.
In other comments, Mr. Kerry provided new detail about the sort of nonlethal aid the United States is planning to provide the military wing of the Syrian opposition after the meeting Saturday with the Syrian opposition and the 11 nations that are supporting them. Mr. Kerry also provided new detail about the sort of nonlethal aid that the United States is planning to provide the military wing of the Syrian opposition after the meeting on Saturday with the Syrian opposition and the 11 nations that are supporting them.
Mr. Kerry said this assistance may include bulletproof vests, communications gear and night vision goggles. The precise equipment is to be determined in discussions with the Supreme Military Council, as the military wing of the Syrian opposition is known. Mr. Kerry said this assistance could include bulletproof vests, communications gear and night-vision goggles. The list of equipment is to be determined in discussions with the Supreme Military Council, as the military wing of the Syrian opposition is known.
Mr. Kerry also said that he would press for the quick delivery of the aid so that it would be weeks, and not months, for it to be provided to the opposition. Mr. Kerry said he would press for the quick delivery of the aid so that it would be weeks, not months, for it to be provided to the opposition.
In late February, Mr. Kerry announced that the United States would begin providing food rations and medical supplies to the armed opposition. But almost two months later that aid has yet to be provided. An American official said that it would be delivered by April 30. In late February, Mr. Kerry announced that the United States would begin providing food and medical supplies to the armed opposition. But almost two months later that aid has yet to arrive. An American official said that it would be delivered by April 30.
Mr. Kerry’s next stop is Brussels, where he is scheduled to attend a meeting of NATO foreign ministers on Tuesday.Mr. Kerry’s next stop is Brussels, where he is scheduled to attend a meeting of NATO foreign ministers on Tuesday.