Turkey's complicated relations with Israel, Hamas

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is stepping up efforts to play a more prominent role in the Gaza conflict. As American Voice correspondent Dorian Jones announces from Istanbul, on April 20th, Mr. Erdogan hosted a meeting of Hamas political leader Ismail Haneyeh.

The most recent meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was an attempt to stave off growing domestic criticism of his complicated stance on war. The Turkish leader has maintained trade ties with Israel while simultaneously condemning Israel's war on Hamas.

“to convince conservative voters that there is no such thing as hypocritical approach, Turkey could be offered as a potential candidate country to house Hamas, if Qatar decides to remove members of the “group from the country, says Selin Nasi, from “London School of Economics”

Turkey wants to play a broader role in resolving the Gaza conflict. Observers say Ankara is seeing an opportunity for this in reports that Qatar could expel the militants' group.

In his bid to boost Turkey's role as a mediator in Gaza, Mr. Erdogan has stepped up diplomatic efforts with Egypt, recently hosting Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Schookry.

Relations between Turkey and Egypt are heated after years of tension, and analysts say there is room for co-operation.

The two countries are very active in rhetorical space in terms of deep sorrow shown to Palestinians in Gaza. At the same time, they maintain their trade, diplomatic and security ties with Israel”, says Yallel Harchaui of the Royal United Services Institute in London.

But analysts say that President Erdogan's public attacks on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu limit Turkey's ability to play a mediating role on the conflict.

“The government must moderate its tone, it must improve dialogue with Israel, because, as it currently is, Turkey is no longer perceived as an impartial third party, which can play the mediator's role. Instead of supporting Hamas, Turkey must move into a more balanced position”, says Selin Nasi, of “London School of Economics”

President Erdogan blamed Iran and Israel for increasing tensions this month, halting temporary approach that criticised Israel alone. Analysts say Turkey's close ties with Hamas could counter Iran's influence in the group.

Observers view President Erdogan's reports with Hamas as the factor behind the postponement of a planned visit to Washington in May, which it said was not happening on co-ordination issues.

“With the dramatic scenes we are seeing in Gaza, Erdogan would have felt obliged to put him at the top of the negotiating agenda. I don't think the White House is in those positions, to host a world leader who would criticise the U.S. stand for Gaza for many reasons, including internal difficulties related to this”, says Asli Aydinastasbas of the “Brooxings” Institute in Washington.

But despite the postponement of President Erdogan's visit, both Washington and Ankara, they say they remain committed to high-level co-operation. / VOA/