Israeli Press: No Relations Problem With Turkey

The Jerusalem Post, Yediot Ahronot and Haaretz newspapers, reported that diplomatic sources from both countries delivered the message that there is no problem with the relations.

Sinirlioglu and Bicakli were recalled just a week after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s comparison of Israel’s attitude toward Palestinians to the Spanish inquisition’s attitude toward Jews. Haaretz wrote that a spokeswoman from Turkey’s Tel Aviv Embassy said the latest development is “not a protest.”

Israel’s Ankara Ambassador, Pinhas Avivi, told the Haaretz on Tuesday: “Turkey’s leaders know that relations with Israel are very important and that some factors will not be allowed to damage this. Turkey criticizes Israel’s policy towards Palestinians, however, this has not negatively affected mutual relations.” Avivi said Turkey has recently taken a series of positive steps towards Israel, using the 800 million dollar agreement between Turkish and Israeli firms last month to establish a power plant in Ashkelon, Israel as an example. Avivi recalled that Israel National Infrastructure Minister, Yosef Paritzki, who attended the signature ceremony for the agreement, later met with Erdogan. “Protocol ceremony did not require the meeting. This was a gesture made by Erdogan,” said Avivi.

The Jerusalem Post reported on its website that the trade volume between Turkey and Israel reached 1.2 billion dollars in 2002 and that Ankara has purchased 3 billion dollars in weapons from Tel Aviv since 1996.