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| By: Associated Press |
| Published: May 29, 2006 |
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Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni left Sunday morning for a two-day visit to Turkey, a traditional ally that has tried to position itself as a mediator between Israel and the Palestinians in recent years.
Livni was to meet with Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan during the visit. She was expected to discuss the recent rise to power of the Palestinian militant group Hamas and the Iranian nuclear threat.
Israel regards as crucial its ties with Turkey, one of the only Muslim nations to have good relations with the Jewish state as well as the Arab world.
Livni's trip was her second official visit to a foreign country since the new Israeli government took office earlier this month. She traveled last week to the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheik last week for an international economic conference.
Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said that Livni's trip to Turkey highlighted the importance of the ties between the two countries. Jerusalem and Ankara have been divided on how to deal with the new Hamas-led Palestinian government.
After the radical Islamic group won Jan. 25 Palestinian parliamentary elections, Israel worked to internationally isolate the Palestinian government. The United States and the European Union, which list Hamas as a terror group, cut off all aid to the Palestinian Authority, demanding that the group renounce violence and accept Israel's right to exist.
Erdogan has criticized the EU for cutting off aid to the Palestinian government and Gul met in February with Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal in Ankara, Turkey, sparking anger from Israel. Turkey said the meeting was called to urge Hamas to abandon violence.
Livni is also expected to meet with Turkey's Jewish community during the visit. |
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