Israel May Reject Turkish Arms Request

In an article in the Jerusalem Post yesterday (1 February), journalists spoke of “crumbling diplomatic relations” between Turkey and Israel and said that other relations may also suffer.

Possible rupture in military relations

Sources from the Ministry of Defence were quoted as saying that there was a possibility that Turkey’s request for Israeli-made military platforms may be rejected.

One senior defence official was quoted as saying, “Turkey is eyeing moderate Arab countries and is hoping to strengthen its ties with them. Just like we don't sell advanced military platforms to Jordan and Egypt, we may decide not to sell to Turkey."

Military ties may also suffer if, so the Jerusalem Post, Turkey decided to withdraw from an agreement by which Israel Air Force pilots train and fly in Turkish airspace.

Military contracts amounting to 140 million dollars were signed in December, according to which two Israeli companies, IAI and Elbit Systems will supply the Turkish Air Force with targeting pods. A 700 million dollar deal for the renewal of Turkey’s tank fleet was completed recently.

Trade relations and tourism

More generally, trade relations between the two countries may suffer. Non-military trade accounts for almost $4 billion annually, 60 percent of it in Turkish exports to Israel.

Israeli tourism to Turkey also represents an important income for Turkey; the newspaper said that 580,000 Israelis visited Turkey last year.

“Since the start of the diplomatic row over Operation Cast Lead, flight bookings to Turkey have dropped by 70%.”

The Haaretz newspaper, too, has reported that the disagreement between Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Israeli President Shimon Peres at the World Economic Forum in Davos last week has led to a dramatic decrease in travel bookings from Israel to Turkey.

Diplomatic efforts

However, so Haaretz, there are intensive “behind-the-scenes” efforts among Israeli and Turkish officials to decrease tensions.

Shalom Turjeman, an adviser to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, is said to be holding talks with an aide of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in an attempt to improve relations between Jerusalem and Ankara.

"Israel has no intention of deepening the crisis and we are trying to calm things down," a source in the Prime Minister's Office said yesterday. "Relations with Turkey are a strategic asset to both countries and we are interested that they remain as such."

"Turkey is important"

At the weekly cabinet meeting Sunday, Olmert commented for the first time on the deterioration of Israel's relationship with Turkey.

"Turkey also has its domestic political considerations - it's a Muslim country on the eve of elections," Olmert explained. "Our ties with it are important."

The newspaper also quotes Defence Minister Ehud Barak as saying, "Turkey is a country of strategic importance in the Middle East. (JP/Haaretz/AG)

*This article made use of www.jpost.com and www.haaretz.com