Turkey on Wednesday accused Israel, its main regional ally, of using excessive force in clashes with Palestinians and causing "great loss of life."
"Unfortunately, the excessive use of force by Israeli forces has led to great loss of life," President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said here in a speech at an economic gathering within the framework of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC).
"We hope these extremely regretful incidents will not be repeated, that common sense will prevail and a just agreement, guaranteeing the rights of our Palestinian brothers, including their right to an independent state, will be reached," the president added.
Sezer said "the Muslim world is deeply hurt by the campaign of violence initiated against our Palestinian brothers on September 28," when Israeli hardliner Ariel Sharon visited the sensitive Al-Aqsa mosque complex, a move widely considered to have sparked the current wave of unrest.
"Resorting to violence and the use of force at holy sites is unacceptable, whatever the reason might be," he added.
Sezer's remarks coincided with a visit to Turkey by Israeli foreign ministry undersecretary Alon Liel, who briefed Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem on Tuesday on Israel's stance in the stalled peace process.
Israel Prime Minister Ehud barak has called a "time out" in the peace process because of the violence that has claimed some 140 lives, all but eight of them Arabs.
Liel told reporters in Ankara that Israel and Turkey had agreed both sides to the dispute as well as the international community should do their utmost to stop the violence and resume peace talks as soon as possible.
"We hope that this time out that was taken will be a short one and that we can stop the bleeding of both sides on the ground," the Israeli diplomat said after meeting his Turkish counterpart Faruk Logoglu.
"Turkey expressed willingness to help in every way possible," he added.
Liel said that he had requested Ankara to help Israel, the United States and Europe to "strengthen moderate forces in the Arab world" and "back any agreement that will ever be signed by (Palestinian leader Yasser) Arafat".
But he refused to elaborate.
Liel is scheduled to meet the head of the parliamentary foreign affairs commission and former president Suleyman Demirel, before leaving on Thursday.
Predominantly Muslim Turkey is Israel's main regional ally since 1996, when the two signed a military cooperation deal, much to the anger of most Arab countries and Iran.
But at the same time Ankara has developed a close relationship with the Palestinians, with whom it maintains full-fledged diplomatic ties.
Turks have held a series of demonstrations in Ankara and Istanbul to condemn Israel for its clampdown on Palestinian protestors -- ISTANBUL (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
