Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that Turkey has suspended all defense ties with Israel, though private trade will continue. Erdogan’s announcement followed the release of the Palmer Commission report on the raid of the Mavi Marmara and Israel’s refusal to issue an apology for the incident:
“Trade ties, military ties, regarding defense industry ties, we are completely suspending them. This process will be followed by different measures,” Erdogan told reporters in Ankara on Tuesday morning.
A spokesman for the Turkish PM told the Wall Street Journal a few hours later that these sanctions did not include general trade between the two countries, and rather referred only to defense goods “for now”.
Ankara earlier this week launched a series of penalizing measures, including the severing of military ties, against Israel over the latter’s refusal to apologize for its deadly raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in 2010.
What do you think?
12:54 pm
Since from its conception, “the Gaza bound flotilla affair” was an act of terror and contrary to international law, disguised under the umbrella of “aid to Gaza.” This plot was thwarted by Israel’S rightful self defense action. Time and again we have seen that today’s friends turning into tomorrow’s enemies. Even though the Turkish prime minister has acted shamefully like his old Ottoman villains, Israel should refrain from taking same action but should always remain vigilant to defend its security if and when another similar attempt is to take place.
8:38 pm
Personally I think Israel should end the blackade and take back the Gaza Strip, Ship all Muslims to Egyp, Jordan, Lybia and Iran. Then there would be no problems on the Gaza Strip. Next step is to reclaim Jurusalem and destroy the dome. Israel has given away the land that God gave to them and that is largely responsible for Israel”s problems. Then Israel should stop listening to the Obama administration.
1:55 pm
I like the sound of that too Dan … but … I wonder if that is God’s Will for Israel. God has a good plan and it will come to pass. Nothing about any of this is easy. I love Israel,they need Jesus