28 November 2010 - 20:30

Turkey is preparing a bill which eases restrictions on land purchases to attract foreign investment, while prohibiting sales to Israelis

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - According to an article in Sunday's edition of the Turkish newspaper, Milliyet, a bill being formulated in Turkey would ease conditions on land purchases, especially for citizens from Persian Gulf states.

The article stated that officials in Turkey have been working on the bill for some time and it is now expected to easily pass through parliament.

Currently, Turkish law limits the usage rights of foreigners who buy land in the country for 99 years in comparison with the new version, which allows indefinite use of the land.

Foreign nationals will be allowed to buy pieces of land up to 99,000 square meters in size. Citizens of Persian Gulf states could buy land with no size limit.

However if the bill passes, it would prevent Israelis from purchasing land in Turkey, though they would be able to continue renting apartments.

The new bill comes while many Israelis reportedly appealed to the Turkish embassy in Israel in the past years to buy land in the country to establish tourism sites.

Israelis are also barred from purchasing land in Jordan, while the Palestinian Authority forbids West Bankers from selling land to Israeli settlers.

Ankara strongly condemned Tel Aviv after it launched a massive military offensive against the Gaza Strip at the turn of 2009 and has repeatedly criticized Israel's violation of Palestinian rights in the occupied West Bank.

Moreover, Turkey severed diplomatic ties with Israel after it attacked a Gaza-bound aid convoy in international waters on May 31, killing nine Turkish activists onboard the civilian fleet.

Tel Aviv not only refused to apologize for the attack, but called the move an "act of self-defense."

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