TEL AVIV, MAY 28, SPA -- ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER TZIPI LIVNI LEFT SUNDAY MORNING FOR A TWO-DAY VISIT TO TURKEY, A TRADITIONAL ALLY THAT HAS TRIED TO POSITION ITSELF AS A MEDIATOR BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIANS IN RECENT YEARS. LIVNI WAS TO MEET WITH TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER ABDULLAH GUL AND PRIME MINISTER TAYYIP ERDOGAN DURING THE VISIT. SHE WAS EXPECTED TO DISCUSS THE RECENT RISE TO POWER OF THE PALESTINIAN HAMAS GROUP AND THE IRANIAN NUCLEAR ISSUE, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTED. --SPA www.spa.gov.sa/364518