Israel Eyes Ties With Islamic Countries Via Turkey: Report

ANKARA , September 7, 2005 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Israel is planning to open interest sections at the Turkish embassy in a number of Islamic countries, well-placed Turkish sources revealed Wednesday, September 7.

The sources told Turkish NTV network that Israel finds it hard to open embassies in any Islamic country like Pakistan , but believes that the best way to reach out to it is through setting up an interest office based at the Turkish embassy.

They maintained that Tel Aviv was very much interested in Turkey 's Middle East mediation efforts like last week's meeting between the Pakistani and Israeli foreign ministers in Istanbul .

Last Thursday, September 1, Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom met in Istanbul with his Pakistani counterpart Khurshid Kasuri, the first official high-level contact between both countries.

The sources said both ministers agreed during their Istanbul meeting that the Israeli office, if it opened, would be based at the Turkish embassy and would work on cementing cultural and trade ties.

Indonesia , Malaysia

The sources further said Israel is planning to establish diplomatic ties with Indonesia , the largest Muslim-populated state, and Malaysia , seen as the Muslim world's economic giant.

Other media reports revealed that Israel had sent messages to Jakarta to establish diplomatic ties following its withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

But Jakarta vehemently denied on Wednesday any intention to establish diplomatic ties with Israel as long as peace is not established in the Palestinian lands.

"Until that situation is achieved, we will never establish diplomatic relations," said Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda in statements carried by Agence France Presse (AFP).

Wirayuda stressed that Jakarta had not received any messages from Israeli officials on establishing diplomatic ties, adding that they "understand" Indonesia 's pre-requisite for a sovereign Palestine state.

"We will not open diplomatic relations with Israel until an independent Palestinian state is established," Wirayuda said.

Indonesia , with close to 90 percent of its 214 million people are Muslims, has no diplomatic ties with Israel and has regularly issued statements of support for the Palestinian cause.

Last week, Malaysia denied any intention to establish ties with Tel Aviv.

"So I think it is bit too early for Malaysia to be talking about possible establishment of any diplomatic relationship (with Israel )," said Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar.

Pakistan Reassures

The Istanbul meeting between Shalom and Kasuri caused shockwaves back in Pakistan and abroad.

Seeking to reassure Arab countries, Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz reiterated on Wednesday Islamabad would not recognize Israel until the independent Palestinian state is established, AFP said.

The Pakistani foreign ministry said that Aziz spoke to his Jordanian, Syrian and Egyptian counterparts and Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa to brief them on last week's talks in Istanbul .

"The Prime Minister made it clear that the contact in Istanbul did not imply recognition by Pakistan of Israel," the statement said.

"It was essentially meant to engage the Israelis to encourage them to resolve the Middle East problem."

Aziz "re-affirmed Pakistan 's principled position" on the issue, emphasizing that recognition of Israel would depend on the establishment of a Palestinian State with Al-Quds (occupied East Jerusalem ) as its capital.

Kasuri revealed Tuesday, September 6, that Pakistan and Israel engaged in secret diplomacy for decades before embarking on their historic talks in Turkey last week.

"As far as this process of engagement (with Israel) is concerned ... there had been back-channel contacts for decades and now a lot started appearing in the newspapers as well," Kasuri said on Tuesday.

"But, we felt that the time has come that we must go public," he told state TV.