Monday, April 22, 2013

Kerry pushes Turkey-Israel rapprochement

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry listens to a question as he speaks to the media with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and Syrian opposition leader Moaz al-Khatib after a "Friends of Syria" group meeting at the Adile Sultan Palace early Sunday, April 21, 2013, in Istanbul, Turkey. The United States said Sunday that it will double its non-lethal assistance to Syria's opposition as the rebels' top supporters vowed to enhance and expand their backing of the two-year battle to oust President Bashar Assad's regime. (AP Photo)

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry listens to a question as he speaks to the media with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and Syrian opposition leader Moaz al-Khatib after a "Friends of Syria" group meeting at the Adile Sultan Palace early Sunday, April 21, 2013, in Istanbul, Turkey. The United States said Sunday that it will double its non-lethal assistance to Syria's opposition as the rebels' top supporters vowed to enhance and expand their backing of the two-year battle to oust President Bashar Assad's regime. (AP Photo)

(AP) ? U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is wrapping up a 24-hour visit to Istanbul with talks aimed at improving ties between Turkey and Israel and pushing ahead with Mideast peace efforts.

American officials say Kerry will use meetings Sunday with Turkey's foreign minister and the Palestinian president to urge the Turks to make good on pledges to normalize relations with Israel and explore ways to relaunch peace talks between the Palestinians and Israelis.

President Barack Obama has made both issues foreign policy priorities for his second term. During a trip to Israel in February, Obama secured pledges from Turkey and Israel to restore badly strained ties.

Earlier Sunday in Istanbul, Kerry announced that the Obama administration is doubling its non-lethal assistance to the Syrian opposition to $250 million.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2013-04-21-EU-Kerry/id-9d696f7e45644e8b84c2418a35e0706d

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