TURKEY: MFA ON TEL AVIV SUICIDE ATTACK

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002179 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2026 TAGS: PREL KPAL IS TU SUBJECT: TURKEY: MFA ON TEL AVIV SUICIDE ATTACK REF: A. STATE 61640 ¶B. ANKARA 02046 Classified By: DCM Nancy McEldowney for Reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (C) Summary. An MFA contact told us Ministry officials are disappointed Hamas has not changed since its February 16 visit to Ankara. He claimed the GOT has had no contact with Hamas since then and confirmed that Turkey only provides in-kind aid to specific projects and beneficiaries in the Palestinian territories, with nothing going to or through PA ministries. Foreign Ministry statements on the April 17 Tel Aviv attack are at paras 5 and 6. End Summary ¶2. (C) We presented ref a points to MFA Middle East Deputy Director General Sakir Torunlar on April 19, emphasizing attempts by various Hamas spokespersons to justify the April 17 Tel Aviv suicide bombing. Torunlar pointed to a Foreign Ministry statement condemning the bombing (para 5),noting that Islamic Jihad had claimed responsibility. We drew his attention again to the Hamas statements and reminded him that Hamas is now in power and therefore responsible for preventing any terrorism emanating from the Palestinian territories. We also made reftel points separately to MFA Policy Planning Department Head Levent Gumrukcu. ¶3. (C) Torunlar admitted that the Turkish government is disappointed that, following its February 16 visit to Ankara, Hamas has not changed its ways. He stated that Turkish officials have had no contacts with Hamas since the Ankara visit. "We told them clearly then what Turkey and the international community expects. We have seen no need for further messages." ¶4. (C) We emphasized the need to keep aid to the Palestinian people out of the hands of the Hamas government. Torunlar stated that Turkey provides no financial aid to Palestine, only in-kind assistance delivered directly to "internationally-approved" projects and individual Palestinian beneficiaries. He stressed that no Turkish aid is delivered to the hands of any PA ministry. Referring to Turkey's promise of one million dollars of in-kind assistance annually to the Palestinian people (ref b),Torunlar noted that none of that aid had actually been disbursed pending approval of the target projects. He also volunteered that work on the Erez Industrial Zone, which Turkey had agreed to revive through private organizations in agreement with both Israel and the PA, has not progressed to date. ¶5. (U) Text of April 18 MFA Statement on Tel Aviv attack (unofficial Embassy translation). Begin text: We strongly denounce the terrorist attack of April 17 in Tel Aviv which caused the death of nine persons and injured more than 40, according to initial reports. We have learned that one of our two citizens injured in the attack was treated on site and the other at a hospital. Our embassy officials in Tel Aviv are providing them the necessary attention. Upon learning of the attack, the Foreign Minister called Israeli FM Livni, expressed our regret at the attack, extended condolences for those who lost their lives, and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. Israeli FM Livni had also called our Foreign Minister in the wake of the April 16 terrorist attack in the Bakirkoy district of Istanbul, expressing her reaction and wishing a fast recovery to the injured. In the sensitive period we are passing through, there is need to establish tranquillity in the region more than ever. It is important that the sides act with common sense and care in order not to provide an opportunity to those who seek to escalate violence in the region. End text. ¶6. (U) In answer to a journalist's question about the Hamas reaction at an April 18 press conference, MFA spokesperson Namik Tan elaborated that "...it is obvious that making remarks in support of terrorist actions will not help Hamas take meaningful steps within the political process." Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON