Suat KINIKLIOGLU, AK Party Deputy Chairman of External Affairs and Spokesman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Turkish Parliament evaluated bilateral relations between Turkey and Israel in a dinner organized by the Rumi Forum in Washington on February 5, 2009.

KINIKLIOGLU, highlighted that it was unsound to argue that Turkey had lost its mediation role after Davos, said ‘Our objections are directed against the current Israeli government, not the Jewish people. We believe that the operation has not enhanced Israel’s security.’

Underlining that Turkey did not make a distinction between the plight of Christians or Muslims reminded Turkey’s quick assistance to Georgia when the crisis between Russian and Georgia erupted. KINIKLIOGLU said “What has happened in Gaza is a turning point in terms of Israeli - Palestinian relations.” KINIKLIOGLU added that Turkish administrators are not getting sleepless whether Turkey would mediate between conflicting parties but was only coming into the picture when the sides request Turkey to do so.

“Turkey is not anti-Semitic. On the contrary Turkey has traditionally been a land where Jews lived comfortably. This is not about Jews, their lifestyle or else. This is about concrete policy. We object to the way and manner the Gaza War has been handled.”