BY SAMI KOHEN
MILLIYET- During the third week of the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza, concentrated diplomatic efforts unfortunately have yet to yield any results. Still, people are looking at Cairo, which is the focus of the efforts.
As part of a plan put together with France, Egypt is discussing the details of a cease-fire with Hamas' Gaza and Damascus wings along with Israel, and with the help of other actors, including Turkey, it is trying to reach a consensus on the issue.
The truth of the saying 'the devil is in the details' is now becoming clear. Efforts for a cease-fire are being drowned in the details of the preconditions put forward by the sides.
Indeed, the hard-won UN Security Council resolution for a cease-fire should be implemented soon. But both sides have rejected this balanced resolution, as it failed to meet their own preconditions.
These details basically are related to the heart of the conflict in the region.
Israel is asking for assurance in two matters for a cease-fire: an end to the missile attacks from Gaza (and supplies of missiles), and a crackdown on the tunnels used to smuggle weapons.
On the other hand, Hamas is demanding that Israel cease its attacks and open Gaza's connections to the world, lifting its blockade.
Egypt (also naturally watching for its own position) is trying to provide balance and a common ground among the details of the opposing positions.
I have no idea about the details of the bargaining behind closed doors, but I understand that the plan proposed by Egypt has basic points which should be finally somehow accepted, although it is difficult, by the two sides. For example, Israel's ending its attacks and retreating, putting checkpoints in Gaza under a supervision mechanism and stopping missile attacks, etc.
Details such as where and by whom that this supervision will be carried out are still under discussion. Egypt, towards this aim, is planning to convene the Arab League. During UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon's visit to the region this week, this is expected to be one of the issues to be taken up.
What is Turkey's role in all these initiatives and contacts?
Turkey was the first state to launch initiatives just after the attacks on Gaza began. France and the others later joined these efforts.
Meanwhile, Egypt came to the forefront thanks to its plan on the issue and contacts with all sides, including Israel. But behind the scenes, Turkish diplomacy worked to cover others' shortcomings. Shuttle diplomacy by the prime minister's chief advisor Ahmet Davutoglu between Cairo and Damascus and his continued contact with Hamas' Khaled Meshaal are among his complementary contributions to the ongoing efforts.
We understand that, Turkey, in this period of negotiation over a cease-fire, is mostly engaging with Hamas and Syria, and trying to reach a common point on details with them.
As reported in yesterday's Al-Hayat, Hamas trusts Turkey even more than Egypt, so Ankara has a kind of mediator or conciliatory role in the issue."