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| By: Associated Press |
| Published: May 30, 2006 |
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Israel's foreign minister pushed Monday for a unified front against Hamas during a visit to Turkey, the Jewish state's only Muslim ally.
But Turkey, which hosted Hamas' exiled leadership earlier this year, criticized Israel's policies, saying an Israeli plan to unilaterally draw its borders with the West Bank was unproductive and that it should resume stalled peace talks with the Palestinians.
The trip by Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni to Turkey, her first state visit abroad, was a testament both to the importance Israel places on its relationship with Turkey, and to Israel's desire to smooth its sometimes rough relations with the country's Islamic-rooted government.
Turkey, which sees itself as an impartial broker between Israel and its Arab opponents, attempted to bring Hamas into the fold as a responsible political actor earlier this year _ a move that seemed to backfire when it drew condemnation from Israel and had little apparent influence on Hamas' militant attitudes.
Hamas, which is officially sworn to Israel's destruction, is considered a terrorist organization by the United States and European Union.
Livni alluded to the Hamas visit to Turkey during a meeting with her Turkish counterpart, Abdullah Gul.
"We must not ignore the fact that the Palestinian Authority is led by a terrorist organization that does not even recognize Israel's right to exist," she said. "The international community must understand that only a unified and determined front against the Hamas government ... can bring about a future change."
Israel has sought to isolate the Palestinians' new Hamas government, and seemed surprised by Turkey's decision to host Hamas political leader Khaled Maashal in February.
Turkey has also criticized the recent decision by the European Union and the United States to cut off aid to the Palestinians, and Gul on Monday said Israel must work with the Palestinian government for a negotiated settlement.
"There is no other way," he said.
Israel says it is willing to renew peace talks with the Palestinians' moderate president, Mahmoud Abbas, but if those efforts fail it will withdraw from much of the West Bank, strengthen major settlement blocs and unilaterally set Israel's borders with the Palestinians.
Prospects for formal negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians have dimmed since Hamas' victory in January elections. The Islamic militant group has refused international demands to renounce violence and recognize Israel since taking over control of the Palestinian government.
Livni defended unilateral steps Monday, saying Israel was forced to take them in the face of the reluctance of the Hamas-led government to cooperate. She also said ending Israel's presence in Palestinian areas could open the way for a Palestinian state and would deprive its leaders of excuses not to crack down on militants.
"We don't want to control the life of Palestinians. We want to find a way to form their own state and to take responsibility," Livni said.
Despite strong differences over how to deal with Hamas, Livni said relations between Israel and Turkey remained strong.
The Israeli foreign minister also met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday, and Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer is to visit Israel next week. |
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