ANKARA, Dec 21 (AFP) - Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is expected to visit Israel in the coming weeks after a cool period in relations between the two regional allies.
"I will visit the region in the coming days and get the opportunity to directly convey to the parties our support for the (Middle East) peace process and the Palestinian elections," Gul told reporters.
The minister, who was speaking at the signing ceremony of an agreement for a 900,000-dollar (672,500-euro) Turkish grant to the Palestinians, gave no other details.
A foreign ministry official told AFP Gul planned to visit Israel and the Palestinian territories on either December 28-29, or January 3-4.
Turkey, a non-Arab Muslim nation with a strictly secular government, has been Israel's chief regional ally since 1996 when, much to the anger of Arab states and Iran, the two struck a military cooperation deal.
Bilateral ties have cooled, however, since Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party came to power in November 2002 and became a vocal critic of what it sees as the Jewish state's heavy-handed policies against the Palestinians.
Tensions culminated in June when Turkey temporarily recalled its ambassador following a deadly Israeli crackdown in the Gaza Strip, which Erdogan condemned as "state terror."
In April, a visit by Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was postponed without explanation, while in November 2003 Erdogan, citing a busy schedule, turned down a request by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to visit Ankara.
The Turkish government, in the meantime, has pledged to enhance cooperation with the Palestinians and has appointed a special official to coordinate those efforts.
Tuesday's grant aims to help develop small- and medium-size Palestinian businesses.
"Our contributions will continue," Gul said.
12/21/2004 15:04 GMT - AFP