Israel Matzav

Why Turkey cannot be a go-between for Syria

The break the last couple of hours was brought to you by a quick trip to Beitar. The next time I drive out there in the daytime, I will try to get someone else to drive back so I can take a picture of the Bethlehem soccer stadium for you. Once you see it, you'll never use the words 'poor Palestinian' together again.

On Sunday, I reported on a disagreement between Israel and Syria as to who (if anyone) would act as a go-between for talks between them. Israel wants direct talks with no pre-conditions, which it would agree to allow the United States to facilitate. Syria wants to talk through Turkey and it wants 'talks' to start where they left off with former Prime Minister Ehud K. Olmert, i.e. with Israel having already conceded everything. In that post, I noted Israel's mistrust for Turkey since Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan stormed out of a panel discussion with Israeli President Shimon Peres at Davos in January. On cue, Turkey shows that there are more reasons than Erdogan's temper tantrum that make it unfit to mediate between Israel and Syria.

Speaking during a a news conference with visiting Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, Davutoglu said the time had come "for Israel to openly display its will for peace if it has it." He did not elaborate.

Hey Moron - What was Oslo? What was setting up the 'Palestinian Authority'? What were the offers Israel made in 1947, 1967, 2000, 2001 and 2008? What was the Gaza 'disengagement'? What was Camp David? What was Taba? What did Olmert offer Abu Bluff last year that Abu Bluff turned down? What was Shepardstown? (The town in West Virginia where the negotiations with Syria fell apart over a few meters on the edge of the Sea of Galilee). What was Wye?

Please fellow Israelis, if for any reason you are thinking of vacationing in Turkey, don't.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 6:24 PM