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| Kerry Seeks Turkish Leader’s Patience on Gaza | Kerry Seeks Turkish Leader’s Patience on Gaza |
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| ISTANBUL — Secretary of State John Kerry said Sunday that he had urged Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey to put off his 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 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 delayed and that it shouldn’t take place at this point in time,” Mr. Kerry said in a news conference here. | “We have expressed to the prime minister that we really think that it would be better delayed and that it shouldn’t take place at this point in time,” Mr. Kerry said in a news conference here. |
| “The timing of it is really critical with respect to the peace process that we’re trying to get off the ground,” Mr. Kerry said. “We would 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’re trying to get off the ground,” Mr. Kerry said. “We would 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 been trying to lay the groundwork for renewed peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. He 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 is imperative that progress be made in the next two years. | Mr. Kerry, who has made three trips to the Middle East since becoming secretary of state, has been trying to lay the groundwork for renewed peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. He 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 is imperative that progress be made in the next two years. |
| Toward that end, Mr. Kerry met Sunday in Istanbul with Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority. | Toward that end, Mr. Kerry met Sunday in Istanbul 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 Salam Fayyad, the Palestinian prime minister. The resignation came as Mr. Kerry is also trying to start an economic initiative in the West Bank that would combine private sector investment with American government programs. | |
| Mr. Kerry acknowledged that Mr. Fayyad’s resignation was a disappointment and said that he had discussed with Mr. Abbas the need to appoint a capable successor. | Mr. Kerry acknowledged that Mr. Fayyad’s resignation was a disappointment and said that he had discussed with Mr. Abbas the need to appoint a capable successor. |
| “Salam Fayyad will stay on for the next 35 days or more,” Mr. Kerry said. “There’ll be a careful transitional process.” | “Salam Fayyad will stay on for the next 35 days or more,” Mr. Kerry said. “There’ll be a careful transitional process.” |
| While he has been working to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations, Mr. Kerry has also sought to head off any obstacles in the efforts to restore Israeli-Turkish relations. | |
| Ties between the two countries were disrupted 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 the two countries were disrupted 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. |
| 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. |
| A team of Israeli officials is arriving in Turkey on Sunday to discuss compensation for the families of those killed or wounded. | A team of Israeli officials is arriving in Turkey on Sunday to discuss compensation for the families of those killed or wounded. |
| Mr. Erdogan is scheduled to visit Washington and meet with Mr. Obama in mid-May. His visit to Gaza, which Hamas controls, had been expected to take place soon after that. | Mr. Erdogan is scheduled to visit Washington and meet with Mr. Obama in mid-May. His visit to Gaza, which Hamas controls, had been expected to take place soon after that. |
| In his news conference, Mr. Kerry also spoke publicly for the first time about the sort of nonlethal aid that the United States is planning to provide to the military wing of the Syrian opposition, after a meeting on Saturday between the Syrian opposition and the 11 nations that are supporting it. | In his news conference, Mr. Kerry also spoke publicly for the first time about the sort of nonlethal aid that the United States is planning to provide to the military wing of the Syrian opposition, after a meeting on Saturday between the Syrian opposition and the 11 nations that are supporting it. |
| Mr. Kerry said the assistance could include bulletproof vests, communications gear and night-vision goggles. The full list is to be determined in discussions with the Supreme Military Council, as the military wing of the Syrian opposition is known. | Mr. Kerry said the assistance could include bulletproof vests, communications gear and night-vision goggles. The full list is to be determined in discussions with the Supreme Military Council, as the military wing of the Syrian opposition is known. |
| The secretary of state the idea was to send items that would have a “direct impact” on the opposition’s efforts in the field, and he emphasized that he would press for quick delivery so that it would take weeks, not months, for it to be provided. | |
| “This has to happen quickly,” he said. “It has to have an impact.” | “This has to happen quickly,” he said. “It has to have an impact.” |
| In late February, Mr. Kerry announced in Rome 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. | In late February, Mr. Kerry announced in Rome 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. |