Shalit family's protest tent in Jerusalem
Photo: AP
Report: Turkey cuts off efforts to secure Shalit's release
Diplomatic sources tell Saudi newspaper Ankara giving up on mediator's role due to 'unrealistic nature' of Hamas' demands, Israel's 'apathy and lack of support for Turkish efforts'
Turkey has cut off its efforts to help reach an agreement securing the release of kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit,
Saudi newspaper al-Watan reported Tuesday, quoting diplomatic source.
The sources also said that Israel had conveyed messages to Turkey stating that it supports Egypt's efforts to secure Shalit's release, despite visits by the Turkish prime minister's senior advisor to Damascus and his meetings with senior Hamas members in a bid to become involved in the matter.
According to the report, "The reason behind the Turkish move is the unrealistic nature of the demands being made by Hamas on the one hand, and Israel's apathy and lack of support for Turkey's efforts on the other hand."
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The CNN Turk network reported about a month ago that Turkey had sent a delegation to Damascus in a bid to reach an agreement with Hamas leaders which would include Shalit's release.
Ankara has offered to mediate in the talks for the kidnapped soldier's release in the past. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated recently that he was willing to help solve the matter.
