TURKEY EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT POSSIBLE FALL-OUT

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 005223 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/19/2013 TAGS: PREL PBTS KPAL KWBG KIRF IS TU SUBJECT: TURKEY EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT POSSIBLE FALL-OUT OVER JULY 22 HARAM AL-SHARIF/TEMPLE MOUNT INCIDENT REF: A. A) JERUSALEM 2176 ¶B. B) JERUSALEM 2265 ¶C. C) JERUSALEM 2267 ¶D. D) JERUSALEM 2439 (U) Classified by DCM Robert Deutsch for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) MFA Middle East DG Burcuoglu advised DCM August 14 that the July 22 Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif incident involving non-Muslim groups praying in the al-Aqsa mosque could adversely impact potential Turkish participation in Iraq and the Roadmap. Burcuoglu believed that permitting non-Muslims to pray in the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount area could initiate another intifada, similar to the September 2000 incident after Sharon's visit to Islam's third holiest site. ¶2. (C) In parallel with ref D details for a viable solution to permit non-Muslim visitors to the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif, it is worth considering Turkey's concerns over this issue: Burcuoglu urged the U.S. to tell the Israelis not to be provocative over internal political issues. He reflected GOT concern that if the Israelis permit non-Muslims to visit the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount, clashes could occur. Burcuoglu feared these clashes could complicate Turkey's potential participation in regional programs such as Iraqi reconstruction and the Roadmap because the Turkish public and parliamentarians would likely react negatively. EDELMAN