Turkey Claims 'Very Significant' Role in Shalit Release

Turkey claims "very significant contributions" for the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, Anatolia news agency quoted deputy prime minister Bulent Arinc as saying on Tuesday.

"In this exchange ... and in protecting the life of Shalit until today, Turkey made very significant contributions," Arinc said without elaborating.

Israel is "aware" of Turkey's role, and acknowledged it "at the level of Presidency," Arinc told reporters during a visit to Skopje.

"All our hope is silencing the weapons, stopping the blood and (making) Palestine ... a more free, independent and secure state within its own borders," he said.

Israel began releasing 1,027 prisoners in two stages Tuesday in exchange for the handover of soldier Shalit, who was snatched by Gaza militants in June 2006. Shalit has arrived back in Israel, chief army spokesman Brigadier General Yoav Mordechai announced.

Once-flourishing Turkish-Israeli ties plunged into a deep crisis last year when Israeli forces killed nine Turks in a raid on a Turkish ferry, part of an activist flotilla carrying aid to Gaza.