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Egypt reached out to Israel to calm tensions in Jerusalem but was met with indifference, its top diplomat tells an emergency Arab League meeting on the crisis.
“In the last few days, Egypt extensively reached out to Israel and other concerned countries urging them to exert all possible efforts to prevent the deterioration of the situation in Jerusalem,” says Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry.
“But we did not get the necessary response,” he tells the meeting of the Arab League via videoconference.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry prepares to take a question during a press conference following talks in Moscow, Russia, May 14, 2018. (Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP)
May 5, 2021
In parallel with its normalization efforts with Egypt, Turkey is now trying to mend ties with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, but it seems to be trapped in a position in which it has to make concessions.
As part of these efforts, Ankara last week extended an olive branch to Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, but Riyadh’s response to Ankara s gesture failed to break the ice as Saudi Arabia announced that it would close eight Turkish schools in the kingdom.
According to Turkey’s state-owned Anadolu Agency, Turkish Education Ministry-affiliated schools in Tabuk, Riyadh, Taif and Jeddah provinces were sent written notices, while the schools in Dammam and Abha were verbally notified by officials. The report said the decision also involves the schools in Mecca and Medina. The schools were also told they would continue to operate until the end of spring term and that authorities would help students enroll in other schools. Citing Turkish diplomatic sources, Anadolu said
Opinion
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan gives a statement after a meeting in Ankara, Turkey, April 5, 2021. Photo: Murat Cetinmuhurdar/PPO/Handout via REUTERS
In a complete reversal of his incessant attacks against the Egyptian government since the 2013 revolution and coup, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has launched a massive media and diplomatic campaign to mend ties with Egypt.
Talks scheduled for this week could open the door to closer relations, and help end a battle for control in Libya, where Egypt and Turkey have backed opposing forces.
Erdogan’s ruling AKP party recently proposed a parliamentary friendship group with Egypt. But Erdogan finds himself increasingly isolated and facing a severe economic crisis at home. The already weak Turkish Lira approached an all-time low versus the US dollar last week, after President Joe Biden officially recognized the Armenian genocide.
In a complete reversal of his incessant attacks against the Egyptian government since the 2013 revolution, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has launched a massive media and diplomatic campaign to mend the ties with Egypt. Talks scheduled for next
Abu Dhabi: Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said Sunday that Turkey’s “actions” must be compatible with Egypt’s principles and goals so that relations between the two countries can return to normal.
Shoukry confirmed the existence of contacts between Cairo and Ankara after years of tension, but indicated that the dialogue is limited.
Shukry told the House of Representatives’ Foreign Relations Committee: “There were no contacts outside the normal diplomatic framework, and if we find real actions from Turkey and goals that are consistent with Egyptian goals and policies . the ground will be paved for normal relationship with Turkey.”