Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday that Israel had agreed to allow his country to broker indirect negotiations with Syria. Erdogan said it was urgent that Israel renew the talks with Syria as soon as possible. Erdogan was speaking with reporters during a visit to Saudi Arabia,

Defense Minister Ehud Barak welcomed what he called Turkey's willingness to broker talks between Israel and Syria. A spokesperson for Prime Minister Binyamin Netanayhu's office said that Israel had not made any decision on whether or not to renew the talks, but that Turkey's willingness to advance peace in the region “was welcome.”