Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, paying his first visit to the West Bank, said Monday that Ankara was prepared to pull out all necessary stops to advance the Middle East peace process.
The Turkish premier made the announcement after talks with Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas, during which he had been expected to offer help to rebuild the Gaza Strip after Israel's withdrawal from the territory.
"We have let it be known to the two parties, with whom we enjoy excellent relations, that we are completely ready to do anything we can to contribute towards peace," Erdogan told reporters.
"It is up to the two parties to determine the type of assistance that we can provide and carry out," he added.
Following in the footsteps of Russian President Vladimir Putin last week, Erdogan is using a landmark two-day visit to Israel and the Palestinian territory to burnish Ankara's credentials as a mediator for Middle East peace.
Abbas welcomed the prospect of Turkish help in the peace process, despite a cool response from Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom.
It was his second meeting with Erdogan in three months after Abbas visited Ankara in February on his first overseas trip after being elected Yasser Arafat's successor.
"We want to see both a political and economic role for Turkey," the Palestinian leader said, adding that Ankara could carve out a role as "an honest broker" through its good relations with both sides.
Erdogan said he had asked Israeli ministers "to support the action of President Abbas, strengthen him and give him a chance to carry out measures which will be to Israel's advantage."
Turkey is seen as Israel's closest ally in the Muslim world.
The Turkish premier also laid a wreath at the grave of the late Palestinian Arafat at the Muqataa leadership compound in Ramallah, as has become the custom for visiting foreign dignitaries.
On Sunday, he met Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon during his first visit to the Jewish state since coming to power two years ago.
Israel, always wary of outside intervention from anyone but its allies in Washington, would rather restrict Turkey's role to providing economic assistance to the Palestinians.
Sharon told a joint news conference with Erdogan that Turkey was able to "help the Palestinians after the redeployment in the economic field," such as by building power stations, desalination plants and high-rise buildings for refugees.
Shalom was also cool on the idea of Turkey acting as a mediator, saying Ankara would do better to provide "economic and humanitarian aid" to the Palestinians.
Erdogan, whose Justice and Development Party has strong Islamist roots, also paid a visit to the flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem.
The mosque, the third holiest site in Islam, is situated in a compound which also houses the Western Wall, the holiest site in Judaism.
Before leaving Ankara, officials had said Erdogan would bring up the issue of Turkish aid to Palestinians and possible assistance in the revitalisation of the Gaza Strip after Israel pulls its troops and settlers out this autumn.
While Turkey's alliance with Israel dates back nearly a decade since the signing of a military accord, the Palestinians have been heartened by Erdogan's willingness to speak out against the Sharon government.
In a bid to facilitate economic contacts with the Palestinians, Erdogan was expected to inaugurate an office of the Turkish Agency for Cooperation and Development - a state institution which aims to promote economic and commercial ties with other countries - in Ramallah.
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