One of the conditions reached in the �understanding� between Jerusalem and Ankara towards normalizing relations is the ousting of senior Hamas commander Saleh al-Arouri from Istanbul. Al-Arouri was responsible for planning the attack which led to the abduction and murders of the Gush Etzion Kedoshim HY�D, Gilad Shaar, Naftali Frenkel and Eyal Yifrach.

Despite the move, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan recently met with Hamas leader Khaled Meshal and after ousting al-Arouri this week stated this does not mean he is shutting down Hamas operations in his country nor will he stop moral and financial support for the terror organization.

(YWN � Israel Desk, Jerusalem)