Tweet
AL-JAZEERA PANELLISTS DISCUSS TENSION IN TURKISH-ISRAELI TIES AFTER GAZA WAR
Al-Jazeera
"Behind the News" programme
Feb 17 2009
Qatar
Qatari government-funded, pan-Arab news channel Al-Jazeera satellite
TV at 1830 gmt on 15 February carries live a new 25-minute episode
of its "Behind the News" programme on "tension" in Turkish-Israeli
ties following the war on Gaza. Anchorwoman Jumanah Nammur in the
studio begins by making the following remarks: "After decades of
distinguished relations between Ankara and Tel Aviv, signs of tension
began to threaten these relations. Following the sharp criticism
the Turkish prime minister levelled at Israel because of its war on
Gaza, and following the heated debate that took place between him
and Israeli President Shim'on Peres in Davos, the Turkish Foreign
Ministry issued a statement protesting comments by an Israeli general,
in which he accused Ankara of killing the Armenians and suppressing the
Kurds. These accusations angered the Turkish military establishment,
which described them as false and unacceptable accusations that
jeopardize ties between the two countries."
The introductory remarks are followed by a three-minute report over
video by Iman Ramadan. The report shows Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan
telling parliament: "I am telling Ehud Baraq and Tzipi Livni to forget
about the elections because history will judge them for the black stain
they are leaving on humanity." He is then shown telling the Israeli
president in Davos: "I will not speak loudly, but when it comes to
killing, you know very well how to kill. You have prime ministers
who said they felt quite happy when they entered Gaza on tanks." The
report ends by saying: "This tension in relations did not begin with
the war on Gaza. It was preceded by talk about Israeli support for the
Kurds, who are viewed as a thorn in Turkish mouth. Israeli meddling in
northern Iraq, however, did not negatively affect the strong military
and economic cooperation between Israel and Turkey."
To discuss this issue, the programme hosts Husni Mahli, a press writer,
via satellite from Istanbul, and Shlomo Ganor, correspondent of the
Israeli Television, via satellite from Jerusalem.
Asked about the consequences of this "escalation in verbal war
between the two regional allies," Mahli says: "Answering this
question is certainly linked to the overall regional developments,
primarily those related to the new Israeli Government, the future
of inter-Palestinian reconciliation, the Israeli-Palestinian clam
agreement, and the new Israeli Government's position on peace with the
Syrians. All these will influence the future Turkish position and the
future of Turkish-Israeli relations." He adds that Israel seeks good
relations with Turkey because it is "the only Islamic state that has
strategic economic and military ties with Israel."
Commenting on Mahli's remarks, Ganor says: "I do not think so. Israel
has ties with many friendly and neighbouring countries. It has peace
agreements with Egypt and Jordan and special relations with the
PNA. There is no doubt that it has distinguished historical ties with
Turkey. These relations have largely developed during the past two
decades and they are characterized by strategic cooperation based on
joint interests and confrontation of common threats. The two countries
also have a common interest in the prosperity of this region. I think
this deterioration or this crisis in relations is a summer cloud that
will go away. I know quite well that the Israeli and Turkish sides are
making intensive efforts towards this end and that other parties are
mediating to clear the atmosphere and restore past relations. What we
see these days is perhaps due to some developments which influenced
relations as a result of the Israeli military campaign against
Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Syria's decision to suspend the indirect
negotiations held with Israel through Turkey. This somehow disappointed
Turkey. Also there is the issue of stumbling European-Turkish
talks on Turkey's EU membership, in addition to other international
problems and challenges facing the Islamic party in Turkey." He adds:
"Turkey is on the threshold of elections and there is no doubt that
Turkish-Israeli relations figure high in the election campaign."
Asked if Turkish-Israeli "tension" is a storm in a cup that will
have no influence on bilateral relations, which have "much improved"
during the last two decades, Mahli says: "Yes, they improved during
the last two decades but they did not improve during the government
of Recep Tayyib Erdogan. It is worth noting that when Israel killed
Shaykh Ahmad Yasin in March 2004, Erdogan said Israel is a terrorist
country. Also Erdogan was the only one who hosted Khalid Mish'al
after the 2006 elections."
Reminded that Erdogan said after the Gaza war that his country was not
against Israel and would not suspend its military exercises with it,
Mahli says: "The issue of exercises is a different one. A strategic
military agreement was signed between the Turkish Army and Israel in
1997. Therefore, let us put aside this issue. Erdogan firmly believes
that Israel is not a state that can be trusted or have strategic
relations with." He adds that the Turkish opinion polls showed that
98.9 per cent of the Turkish people were against Israel during the
Gaza war. He then says Erdogan's government has suspended its military
contracts with Israel to modernize Turkish tanks and planes.
Ganor responds by saying: "We here in Israel do not think relations
have reached this serious level as some are trying to show. Strategic
relations between the two countries are strong. We have to remember
that the military in Turkey enjoys a special status and adopts a
special position on relations with Israel. Its position on Israel is
completely different from that of the Turkish politicians."
When told that the Turkish Army supported the prime minister during the
Gaza war, Ganor says: "Nevertheless, relations are still in place and
will continue, especially since an agreement was signed in 1996 and
there are joint military exercises, contracts on the modernization
of Turkish weapons, and joint naval and air exercises. Arms deals
were signed and Turkey buys weapons from Israel. There is also an
exchange of intelligence information on the dangers threatening the
two countries like terrorism and Iran."
He adds: "If Turkey severs its military and security relations
with Israel, this will reflect negatively on NATO relations with
Ankara. Both Turkey and Israel take this into consideration." He then
says "there is a crisis which we do not ignore, but intensive efforts
are being made to overcome this crisis so that the two countries can
play their role in the Middle East and confront common dangers."
Asked if Turkey will be able to maintain good relations with Israel
and the Arabs and continue to play the role of mediator between Israel
and Syria, Mahli says: "There are no strategic interests between Israel
and Turkey and there is no joint enemy. If by enemy the speaker means
Iran, I will then say Turkey does not consider Iran a threat to it
or to the region."
He adds: "Turkey was and will continue to be the key player in
all Middle East developments as long as it maintains distinguished
relations with Syrian President Bashar al-Asad. Since Syria is a
principal party to the peace process in the Middle East, the Syrian
president will accept no mediator other than Turkey in the peace
talks with Israel. Turkey knows this. Turkey also has distinguished
relations with Hamas's leaders. Although Hamas is now holding talks
with Egypt, the leaders of Hamas have absolute confidence in Prime
Minister Erdogan and the Turkish leaders."
He adds: "Turkey was deceived by Israel although it did not deceive
anyone. It was Olmert who deceived Turkey when he came to Ankara
before the Israeli invasion of Gaza and promised Turkey, Syria,
and Hamas that there will be a new phase of talks. He, however,
returned to Israel and launched his aggression against Gaza. This
is what prompted Prime Minister Erdogan to say two days later that
Olmert was impolite and did not respect Turkey. When Olmert was here,
Erdogan contacted Syrian President Bashar al-Asad and agreed with
him to hold direct talks between Israel and Syria. He also contacted
Isma'il Haniyah [head of deposed Hamas-led government in Gaza] and
agreed with him to continue to observe calm with Israel."
Responding to this, Ganor says: "A clear official Israeli statement
made here in Jerusalem said neither Olmert nor any Israeli official
deceived the Turkish side on any level whatsoever. The talks Olmert
held with the Turkish prime minister dealt with the Syrian issue." He
then says the Israeli Army issued a statement saying Israeli General
Mizrahi's criticism of Turkey did not express the official position
of the army.
Finally asked if differences between Turkey and Israel can be
forgotten, Mahli says: "I do not think so because the Turkish leaders
are strongly convinced that they can no longer trust any Israeli
official on any level." He adds that Turkey will nevertheless "be
careful to maintain ties with Israel even if it does not believe in
them or is not satisfied with them" because Turkey is a NATO member
and has ties with the United States and the Jewish lobby there.
Al-Jazeera
"Behind the News" programme
Feb 17 2009
Qatar
Qatari government-funded, pan-Arab news channel Al-Jazeera satellite
TV at 1830 gmt on 15 February carries live a new 25-minute episode
of its "Behind the News" programme on "tension" in Turkish-Israeli
ties following the war on Gaza. Anchorwoman Jumanah Nammur in the
studio begins by making the following remarks: "After decades of
distinguished relations between Ankara and Tel Aviv, signs of tension
began to threaten these relations. Following the sharp criticism
the Turkish prime minister levelled at Israel because of its war on
Gaza, and following the heated debate that took place between him
and Israeli President Shim'on Peres in Davos, the Turkish Foreign
Ministry issued a statement protesting comments by an Israeli general,
in which he accused Ankara of killing the Armenians and suppressing the
Kurds. These accusations angered the Turkish military establishment,
which described them as false and unacceptable accusations that
jeopardize ties between the two countries."
The introductory remarks are followed by a three-minute report over
video by Iman Ramadan. The report shows Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan
telling parliament: "I am telling Ehud Baraq and Tzipi Livni to forget
about the elections because history will judge them for the black stain
they are leaving on humanity." He is then shown telling the Israeli
president in Davos: "I will not speak loudly, but when it comes to
killing, you know very well how to kill. You have prime ministers
who said they felt quite happy when they entered Gaza on tanks." The
report ends by saying: "This tension in relations did not begin with
the war on Gaza. It was preceded by talk about Israeli support for the
Kurds, who are viewed as a thorn in Turkish mouth. Israeli meddling in
northern Iraq, however, did not negatively affect the strong military
and economic cooperation between Israel and Turkey."
To discuss this issue, the programme hosts Husni Mahli, a press writer,
via satellite from Istanbul, and Shlomo Ganor, correspondent of the
Israeli Television, via satellite from Jerusalem.
Asked about the consequences of this "escalation in verbal war
between the two regional allies," Mahli says: "Answering this
question is certainly linked to the overall regional developments,
primarily those related to the new Israeli Government, the future
of inter-Palestinian reconciliation, the Israeli-Palestinian clam
agreement, and the new Israeli Government's position on peace with the
Syrians. All these will influence the future Turkish position and the
future of Turkish-Israeli relations." He adds that Israel seeks good
relations with Turkey because it is "the only Islamic state that has
strategic economic and military ties with Israel."
Commenting on Mahli's remarks, Ganor says: "I do not think so. Israel
has ties with many friendly and neighbouring countries. It has peace
agreements with Egypt and Jordan and special relations with the
PNA. There is no doubt that it has distinguished historical ties with
Turkey. These relations have largely developed during the past two
decades and they are characterized by strategic cooperation based on
joint interests and confrontation of common threats. The two countries
also have a common interest in the prosperity of this region. I think
this deterioration or this crisis in relations is a summer cloud that
will go away. I know quite well that the Israeli and Turkish sides are
making intensive efforts towards this end and that other parties are
mediating to clear the atmosphere and restore past relations. What we
see these days is perhaps due to some developments which influenced
relations as a result of the Israeli military campaign against
Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Syria's decision to suspend the indirect
negotiations held with Israel through Turkey. This somehow disappointed
Turkey. Also there is the issue of stumbling European-Turkish
talks on Turkey's EU membership, in addition to other international
problems and challenges facing the Islamic party in Turkey." He adds:
"Turkey is on the threshold of elections and there is no doubt that
Turkish-Israeli relations figure high in the election campaign."
Asked if Turkish-Israeli "tension" is a storm in a cup that will
have no influence on bilateral relations, which have "much improved"
during the last two decades, Mahli says: "Yes, they improved during
the last two decades but they did not improve during the government
of Recep Tayyib Erdogan. It is worth noting that when Israel killed
Shaykh Ahmad Yasin in March 2004, Erdogan said Israel is a terrorist
country. Also Erdogan was the only one who hosted Khalid Mish'al
after the 2006 elections."
Reminded that Erdogan said after the Gaza war that his country was not
against Israel and would not suspend its military exercises with it,
Mahli says: "The issue of exercises is a different one. A strategic
military agreement was signed between the Turkish Army and Israel in
1997. Therefore, let us put aside this issue. Erdogan firmly believes
that Israel is not a state that can be trusted or have strategic
relations with." He adds that the Turkish opinion polls showed that
98.9 per cent of the Turkish people were against Israel during the
Gaza war. He then says Erdogan's government has suspended its military
contracts with Israel to modernize Turkish tanks and planes.
Ganor responds by saying: "We here in Israel do not think relations
have reached this serious level as some are trying to show. Strategic
relations between the two countries are strong. We have to remember
that the military in Turkey enjoys a special status and adopts a
special position on relations with Israel. Its position on Israel is
completely different from that of the Turkish politicians."
When told that the Turkish Army supported the prime minister during the
Gaza war, Ganor says: "Nevertheless, relations are still in place and
will continue, especially since an agreement was signed in 1996 and
there are joint military exercises, contracts on the modernization
of Turkish weapons, and joint naval and air exercises. Arms deals
were signed and Turkey buys weapons from Israel. There is also an
exchange of intelligence information on the dangers threatening the
two countries like terrorism and Iran."
He adds: "If Turkey severs its military and security relations
with Israel, this will reflect negatively on NATO relations with
Ankara. Both Turkey and Israel take this into consideration." He then
says "there is a crisis which we do not ignore, but intensive efforts
are being made to overcome this crisis so that the two countries can
play their role in the Middle East and confront common dangers."
Asked if Turkey will be able to maintain good relations with Israel
and the Arabs and continue to play the role of mediator between Israel
and Syria, Mahli says: "There are no strategic interests between Israel
and Turkey and there is no joint enemy. If by enemy the speaker means
Iran, I will then say Turkey does not consider Iran a threat to it
or to the region."
He adds: "Turkey was and will continue to be the key player in
all Middle East developments as long as it maintains distinguished
relations with Syrian President Bashar al-Asad. Since Syria is a
principal party to the peace process in the Middle East, the Syrian
president will accept no mediator other than Turkey in the peace
talks with Israel. Turkey knows this. Turkey also has distinguished
relations with Hamas's leaders. Although Hamas is now holding talks
with Egypt, the leaders of Hamas have absolute confidence in Prime
Minister Erdogan and the Turkish leaders."
He adds: "Turkey was deceived by Israel although it did not deceive
anyone. It was Olmert who deceived Turkey when he came to Ankara
before the Israeli invasion of Gaza and promised Turkey, Syria,
and Hamas that there will be a new phase of talks. He, however,
returned to Israel and launched his aggression against Gaza. This
is what prompted Prime Minister Erdogan to say two days later that
Olmert was impolite and did not respect Turkey. When Olmert was here,
Erdogan contacted Syrian President Bashar al-Asad and agreed with
him to hold direct talks between Israel and Syria. He also contacted
Isma'il Haniyah [head of deposed Hamas-led government in Gaza] and
agreed with him to continue to observe calm with Israel."
Responding to this, Ganor says: "A clear official Israeli statement
made here in Jerusalem said neither Olmert nor any Israeli official
deceived the Turkish side on any level whatsoever. The talks Olmert
held with the Turkish prime minister dealt with the Syrian issue." He
then says the Israeli Army issued a statement saying Israeli General
Mizrahi's criticism of Turkey did not express the official position
of the army.
Finally asked if differences between Turkey and Israel can be
forgotten, Mahli says: "I do not think so because the Turkish leaders
are strongly convinced that they can no longer trust any Israeli
official on any level." He adds that Turkey will nevertheless "be
careful to maintain ties with Israel even if it does not believe in
them or is not satisfied with them" because Turkey is a NATO member
and has ties with the United States and the Jewish lobby there.