By Xinhua
Cairo : Visiting Turkish President Abdullah Gul on Wednesday urged all sides concerned to seize the current available opportunity to reach just and permanent peace in the Middle East, the Egyptian official MENA news agency reported.
Gul made his call in an exclusive interview with MENA editor-in-chief Abdullah Hassan, saying the situation in the region has been sensitive following the Annapolis conference on Mideast peace held last December in the United States.
The Turkish president expressed regret over the continued Israeli military actions against Palestinians and settlement activities that run against efforts exerted to make peace in the region.
On Tuesday, Israeli incursion into the Gaza Strip killed at least 19 Palestinians and wounded 45 others.
Gul also warned that division among the Palestinians harm the efforts exerted to realize peace.
Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) routed forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas last June and took over the Gaza Strip, politically separating the impoverished enclave from West Bank where Fatah still dominant.