Washington urges Türkiye and Israel and to resolve their differences
The United States on Monday called on Türkiye and Israel to resolve their differences after Ankara announced it was suspending trade in a bid to force the Israeli government to agree to a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
Asked about the trade freeze, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said, “Both are allies, and we encourage them to overcome their differences”.
Public comments by the United States on Türkiye are often cautious, amid strained relations with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Erdogan, who has been publicly critical of Israel, on Friday justified the decision to suspend business transactions as to force Israel to agree to a ceasefire and increase the amount of humanitarian aid entering Gaza.
Türkiye, one of the few Muslim-majority countries to recognize Israel, announced in April export restrictions to Israel covering 54 products from iron and steel to jet fuel.
