ANKARA, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc made a surprise offer and suggested that Turkey and Israel should hold bilateral talks to end the escalating crisis in Gaza despite the rift between the two nations, local newspaper Today's Zaman reported Friday.
Arinc told reporters late Thursday that Turkey expects Israel to immediately halt the attacks on Gaza, which have left at least 20 Palestinians dead, including many civilians and infants, saying that these attacks have no moral and legal basis.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Thursday that Ankara will take steps at international institutions for necessary measures against Israel for its "aggressive position" against Gaza.
Turkish-Israeli relations collapsed after eight Turkish nationals and one Turkish American were killed when the Israeli Navy attacked an international aid flotilla trying to break an Israeli blockade of Gaza in May 2010.
Ankara wants an official apology from Israel for the raid and calls for the lifting of the Gaza blockade, but both demands have been rejected by the Israeli government so far. With tensions increased, Turkey has expelled the Israeli ambassador and suspended military agreements it had with the country.
