Israel -Turkey relations reportedly on verge of crisis

Are diplomatic relations between Israel and Turkey on the verge of crisis? Reports indicate that Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has instructed the country’s security establishment not to sign any deals with Israeli companies. Government sources in Ankara told the Lebanese daily “Al Mustakbal”: “This is a new policy, negating all military or strategic cooperation with Tel Aviv”.

The paper reported Saturday that the PM’s instructions do not apply to existing signed contracts, but only to future deals. Furthermore, Erdogan ordered a clampdown on new contracts with American security companies, thereby expressing strong preference for cooperation with European companies, a move likely to help Turkey in its bid to join the European Union.

Ankara is bitterly critical of Israel’s attacks on the Hamas leadership, and the Turks are also annoyed by what they term as “the Sharon government’s refusal to cooperate in the peace process”. This is a reference to Erdogan’s recent offer to act as a mediator in any Israel-Syria peace talks, and to Prime Minister Sharon declining the proposal.

The new Turkish policy is likely to have serious repercussions for Israeli defense industries, which have been very successful in Turkey over the last few years. The decision could also torpedo Israeli efforts to win large contracts in Turkey, worth close to a billion dollars.

The Israeli Defense Ministry claims to know nothing of the Turkish turnaround. A ministry source said: “There is no change in our relations with Turkey…and in the last few days the relationship with them has been as close and as cordial as ever”. According to state officials, Israel has yet to receive official confirmation of the report in the Lebanese paper.

A Foreign Ministry official said that FM Silvan Shalom met with his Turkish counterpart, Abdullah Gol, only a week ago, and the issue was not discussed at all. Turkish officials also played down the hype and said: “The connection between the security establishments of both countries is and continues to be businesslike and genuine”.