Israel concerned with deterioration of ties with Turkey

by Xinhua writer Geng Xuepeng

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Monday emphasized the importance of the relations with Turkey to Israeli foreign policy, apparently in an effort to calm the strained political atmosphere after Ankara's cancellation of a joint air force drill with Israel.

"The relations between Israel and Turkey are strategic and have been maintained for dozens of years," local daily Ha'aretz quoted Barak as saying.

Israeli defense officials said a day earlier that Turkish military banned Israel Air Force from joining in an international air force exercise in Turkey due to Ankara's opposition to Israeli military offensive against the Gaza Strip last winter.

The joint drill had been scheduled for this week with Turkey, the United States, Israel, Italy and NATO forces as participants, reported Israeli media. Instead of an international exercise, Ankara decided to carry out the drill alone now.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu confirmed the decision during an interview on Monday. "We hope that the situation in Gaza will be improved," he told CNN when explaining why Turkey excluded Israel from the planned drill.

Earlier, the Turkish foreign ministry said "a technical matter," instead of politics, prompted the delay of the Anatolian Eagle exercise, CNN reported.

Some Israeli defense officials told local daily The Jerusalem Post that Israel is considering reviewing some cooperation platforms with Turkey, including advanced weapons sales to Turkey, in regard with the current situation of the bilateral relations.

But Barak apparently holds an opposite opinion to a fiery reaction. "Despite all the ups and downs, Turkey continues to be a central figure in our region, it is unsuitable to be drawn into criticizing it," he told a closed meeting.

Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon expressed a similar comment on Sunday night. "Our interest is not to reach a point of friction or crisis with Turkey. We consider Turkey an important strategic partner of Israel's and an anchor of stability," Ayalon was quoted by local news service Ynet as saying.

But he also vieldedly warned Ankara of considering its own loss in a deterioration of bilateral relations. "It is important for both sides to maintain the meaningful strategic bond in Israel's ties with the Turkish government, which has proven to be moderate in the past," Ayalon added.

Israel and Turkey have maintained fairly well ties in recent years. Their bilateral trade reached some 3.3 billion U.S. dollars in 2008, making Turkey one of Israel's biggest trade partners. Moreover, Israel and Turkey in the past have carried out several military exercises alongside the United States in the Mediterranean Sea. Israel has also signed many defense deals with Turkey.

However, comments since earlier 2009 from Turkish leaders are far more critical of Israel, particularly in the wake of Israel's operation in Gaza last winter.

"You are killing people," Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was heard saying to Israeli President Shimon Peres at the World Economic Forum annual gathering in Davos, Switzerland at the end of January.

Analysts said that the deterioration in bilateral relations in part due to a perceived Israeli failure to address the peace process more seriously and a new direction of Turkish foreign policy with Israeli-Palestinian conflict topping the agenda in the Middle East.

Despite of signs of "continued tensions" between the two countries, Some Israeli officials told the Ynet on condition of anonymity that the bilateral relationship between the two countries is built on mutual security, political and economic ties.

"We must find a way to restore the relations," an official told the Ynet.

Source: Xinhua