ANKARA, 16 February 2007 — Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert yesterday agreed to a Turkish inspection of construction work near Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque which has sparked violent Palestinian protests and angered Muslims across the world.
The deal was struck during talks here with Recep Tayyip Erdogan, prime minister of Turkey, which is the Jewish state’s closest Muslim ally.
“Olmert showed me photographs of the construction ... but they have failed to convince me 100 percent,” Erdogan told a joint press conference here. “I proposed to send a technical team to inspect on site the work that is being done and he (Olmert) has agreed.
Erdogan, who hails from a now-defunct Islamist party, had previously harshly criticized the construction work that aims to build a stone ramp to replace a damaged wooden bridge leading to the site.
Olmert said that his country was ready to cooperate on this issue. “We have nothing to hide. We will not touch any place that is holy to both Christians and Muslims,” he said.
Israel has suspended the building work at Al-Aqsa, the third holiest site for Muslims, but said it was pressing on with archaeological excavations.
Olmert, who arrived Wednesday for a two-day official visit, said he had also discussed with Erdogan long-stalled efforts for peace in the Middle East and urged Turkey’s contribution in building a bridge between Israel and Arab countries that do not recognize the Jewish State.
Erdogan said his country was ready to help and underlined that a power-sharing agreement between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the Islamist movement Hamas provided an opportunity for peace.
“First of all, there needs to be a strong government in the Palestinian territories,” Erdogan said, adding that he was planning to invite the leaders of the new government to Ankara to discuss prospects of peace.
“I think it would be beneficial if this (Palestinian) government held talks with Israel,” he said.
Olmert is scheduled to meet Abbas and Condoleezza Rice next Monday in Jerusalem to look into prospects of renewed peace talks that would pave the way for the creation of a Palestinian state.
The Israeli prime minister said he expected the new Palestinian government to abide by the conditions set down by the international community — to recognize Israel, renounce violence and abide by past agreements.
“The Palestinians must openly and clearly commit themselves to these principles,” he added.
Asked about prospects of peace between Israel and its long-standing enemy Syria, Olmert said Damascus needed to stop supporting terrorism. “We want to make peace with Syria,” he said. “We especially want Syria to stop supporting terrorism and abide by the rules set up by the international community.”
Erdogan said he planned to hold talks with the Syrian leadership “in the coming weeks” and discuss the matter with them. “We have to encourage positive developments between the two sides. I am personally optimistic ... because if we stay optimistic, we will able to get results,” he said.
Turkey has been a main regional ally of Israel since 1996 when the two countries signed a military cooperation deal. Ankara believes it is in a position to facilitate peace initiatives in the region, drawing on its close ties with both Israel and the Palestinians as well as the remarkable improvement in its relations with Syria.
The two leaders also underlined their commitment to strengthen economic relations between their two countries, particularly increasing trade volume which has approached some $2.5 billion (1.9 billion euros). Olmert is scheduled to meet Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and other senior officials before returning home.
Tel Aviv Begins Internet Broadcast of Work
Israel began broadcasting live Internet video footage of archaeological excavations near Jerusalem’s most contested holy site yesterday in a bid to appease Muslim anger over the project.
“It started at 2:00 p.m. (1200 GMT). There are three cameras online 24 hours a day,” Israel Antiquities Authority spokesman Osnat Gouez said, saying that the decision had come from Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. “Everybody can see our work and see every minute of the excavation. We did it because the prime minister asked us and we thought it was a good idea. Now there is no question about what we are doing,” she added.
The cameras, installed Wednesday, are to broadcast live footage on Internet of the archaeological excavations during the working hours of 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, but will remain on in off hours as well.
The footage is viewable on the Israel Antiquities Authority website: www.antiquities.org.il home-eng.asp.
Jerusalem mufti Sheikh Mohammed Hussein and the head of Israel’s Islamic Movement, Sheikh Raed Salah, have heavily criticized the excavations and urged Palestinians to mobilize against the project today.
Meanwhile, a Jerusalem court yesterday extended a ban prohibiting Salah from approaching Jerusalem’s Old City for two months, amid Muslim protests near the holy sites.
The initial 10-day ban on coming within 150 meters (500 feet) of the Old City walls was extended by another 60.
He first appeared before the court on Feb. 7. Salah told reporters he would ignore the court order and that he intended to head to the mosque today for the main weekly Muslim prayers.
