(Ha'aretz) Barak Ravid - In light of recent progress in Israel's reconciliation talks with Turkey, senior officials in Jerusalem told Ha'aretz that Egypt has expressed its opposition to any Israeli concessions to Turkey with regard to Gaza. Over the last two years there has been a serious rift between Egyptian President Sissi and Turkish President Erdogan over Turkey's support for the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. To this day Erdogan does not recognize Sissi as the legitimate president of Egypt. Egypt, which has imposed an almost complete closure on the Strip from the Sinai Peninsula, is interested in maintaining maximal pressure on Hamas and has reservations concerning any easing of restrictions by Israel. A senior Israeli official said that Prime Minister Netanyahu is concerned that any concession to Turkey on Gaza will damage Israel's strategic ties with Egypt.
2016-01-08 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive