Clinton Continues Discussions with Turkey Regarding Israel, Iran

After the Israeli attack on the Freedom convoy and the eruption of verbal attacks between Turkey and Israel, Hillary Clinton is trying to work with the two American allies to establish peace. Clinton, in a meeting with the Turkish foreign minister, tried to reduce the intensity of the differences between Israel and Turkey and remind Turkey that Israel has the support of America. Therefore, Turkey should not be too sharp in their confrontation with Israel. On Monday, the American secretary of state and her Turkish counterpart called for continuing negotiations and dialogue with Israel, and noted that the relationship between the two countries is very important for the future of the Middle East.

Relations between Israel and Turkey have been severely strained following the Israeli attack on the Freedom convoy carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, which killed nine Turkish citizens. Turkey condemned the attack, demanding compensation and an official apology to Turkey and the families of those killed in the event by the Zionist regime. Israel did not agree to these demands.

While America insists on improving ties between Turkey and Israel, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said to reporters in Serbia on Monday that his country will not stop asking certain things of Israel. He said Turkey has three demands: Israel must officially apologize, Israel must compensate the families of the victims of the attack and Israel must remove itself from the besieged Gaza Strip.

Erdogan also questioned America’s silence regarding the killing of an American citizen during the attack — a citizen who traced his origins back to Turkey — saying that just because he was not born in America shouldn’t influence America’s reaction to his death.

America is concerned about Turkey’s participation in the Tehran Declaration with recent support of Iran’s nuclear program. In this last meeting, the U.S. tried to remind Turkey of common interests and also to convince Turkey that Iran’s nuclear program should not proceed until approved by the U.N. Security Council and the International Atomic Energy Agency, two international organizations assigned to deal with the issue.

U.S. officials announced that the Turkish foreign minister has agreed that the Security Council and IAEA should be involved in Iran’s nuclear pursuits, but he has not publicly commented on this issue yet.