Turkey became mediator between Syria and Israel

Sources from Israeli Embassy in Ankara told the A.A correspondent on Thursday that Asad’s visit to Ankara was taken up at the meeting between Erdogan and Avivi.

Sources said that they told Ankara that Turkey could act as a mediator between Israel and Syria, and Ankara accepted this proposal and stated that Turkish officials conveyed Israel’s messages to Syria during their meetings with Asad.

Stating that Erdogan conveyed Asad’s message that he approached warmly sitting at the negotiation table with Israel to Avivi, sources said that but conditions did not become definite yet.

Sources said that agreement on Manavgat water, which was approved by Israeli government, was also brought onto the agenda during meeting between Erdogan and Avivi, noting that Erdogan told Avivi that he was pleased with approval of this agreement. Sources quoted Erdogan as saying that this agreement was an important step.

Sources also said that they expected the agreement to be signed during Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler’s visit to Israel soon.

Erdogan earlier said that Turkey was willing to act as a mediator between Syria and Israel, if the two countries wanted to sit at the negotiation table.

Speaking to Israeli TV, Erdogan said that Turkey had good neighborly relations with all Middle East countries and stated that they hoped that it would be possible for Turkey to undertake the role of mediator between Damascus and Jerusalem.