ANKARA - Every agreement made and to be made between Turkey and Israel would increase the level of welfare of everybody living in the Middle East, Israeli Ambassador to Turkey Pinhas Avivi said on Thursday.
Avivi, who visited Turkish Agriculture and Rural Affairs Minister Sami Guclu, said that his country wanted to cooperate with Turkey since two countries were situated in similar geographies and faced similar problems.
His country wanted to make a significant agreement with Turkey on energy corridor which would connect Turkey and Israel with the rest of the world, Avivi noted.
Avivi stated that agreements to be signed by Turkey and Israel would contribute to peace.
Turkey and Israel, as two modern countries with high living standards, were responsible for raising level of welfare of other Middle Eastern people, Avivi emphasized.
When he was asked to evaluate words of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who said that ''recent actions of Israel had given rise to anti-Semitism in the world'', Avivi said that in a meeting held in Europe attended also by Turkey, it was said that nothing to be done in the Middle East could be a reason for anti-Semitism.
Avivi noted that he, as a person who personally joined some developments between Israel and Arabs, could say that his country did its best and was ready to do its best.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon unilaterally committed to withdraw from Gaza, Avivi recalled. Avivi said that it was a plan aiming at Israel's returning to its international borders and hoped that Turkey would support those significant steps of Israel.
Israel was ready to do its best for peace in the Middle East, Avivi pointed out.
When recalled about rumors that Israel bought territory in South Anatolia and north of Iraq, Avivi claimed that some Arab embassies, and especially Egyptian embassy in Ankara put forward a lie a few months ago.
Avivi said that he brought a special message from Sharon to Turkish government upon those allegations, and assured Turkey that Israel was not in any action in the north of Iraq and it would be in cooperation and coordination with Turkey in every initiative to be launched in Iraq and the Middle East.
Israel would not do anything contrary to the interests of Turkey, Avivi emphasized.
Avivi said that those who claimed that Israel was buying territory in another place did not know what it meant because Zionism meant bringing the Jews within the territory of Israel.
Erdogan, speaking to Justice and Development Party (AK Party) deputies on Tuesday said, ''recent actions of Israel have given rise to anti-Semitism in the world.''
''In the past, the Ottoman Empire sheltered 500 thousand Jewish people driven away by the Spanish Inquisition. Now, Palestinian people are in a difficult position. As Muslim, we have always supported the oppressed people. No one can describe Palestine a criminal of the armament process. They use stones as weapon while Israel sprays them with bombs. There is a serious difference between them. As one of the biggest arm producers in the world, Israel cannot compare itself with Palestine. We do not have any problem with Israeli people. However, recent actions of Israel have given rise to anti-Semitism in the world. We consider anti-Semitism a crime against humanity. There is not any change in our views,'' Prime Minister Erdogan added.
(BRC-AÖ) 17.06.2004