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ISRAEL TO 'PUNISH' TURKEY
Ynetnews
Sept 9 2011
Israel
Jerusalem fights back: Foreign Minister Lieberman formulates series
of tough moves in response to Turkish steps; Israel to cooperate with
Armenian lobby in US, may offer military aid to Kurdish rebels
Shimon Shiffer Published: 09.09.11, 08:54 / Israel News
Jerusalem to punish Erdogan: Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has
decided to adopt a series of harsh measures in response to Turkey's
latest anti-Israeli moves, Yedioth Ahronoth reported Friday.
Senior Foreign Ministry officials convened Thursday to prepare for a
meeting to be held Saturday with Lieberman on the matter. Saturday's
session will be dedicated to discussing Israel's response to Turkish
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's recent threats and his decision
to downgrade Ankara's diplomatic ties with Jerusalem.
Following Thursday's meeting, officials assessed that Turkey is not
interested in an Israeli apology at this time and prefers to exploit
the dispute with Jerusalem in order to promote Ankara's status in
the Muslim world. Lieberman therefore decided there was no point in
seeking creative formulas for apologizing, instead choosing to focus
Israel's efforts on punishing Turkey.
The Foreign Ministry has now decided to proceed with the formulation
of a diplomatic and security "toolbox" to be used against the Turks.
The first move would be to issue a travel warning urging all Israeli
military veterans to refrain from traveling to Turkey. The advisory
will be especially harsh as it will also urge Israelis to refrain
from boarding connections in Turkey.
Another planned Israeli move is the facilitation of cooperation with
Turkey's historic rivals, the Armenians. During Lieberman's visit
to the United States this month, the foreign minister is expected
to meet with leaders of the Armenian lobby and propose anti-Turkish
cooperation in Congress.
The implication of this move could be Israeli assistance in promoting
international recognition of the Armenian holocaust, a measure that
would gravely harm Turkey. Israel may also back Armenia in its dispute
vis-a-vis Turkey over control of Mount Ararat.
'Turkey better show respect'
Lieberman is also planning to set meetings with the heads of Kurdish
rebel group PKK in Europe in order to "cooperate with them and boost
them in every possible area." In these meetings, the Kurds may ask
Israel for military aid in the form of training and arms supplies,
a move that would constitute a major anti-Turkish position should
it materialize.
However, the violent clashes between Turkey and the Kurds only
constitute one reason prompting accusations that Ankara is violating
human rights. Hence, another means in Lieberman's "toolbox" vis-a-vis
Erdogan is a diplomatic campaign where Israeli missions worldwide
will be instructed to join the fight and report illegal Turkish moves
against minorities.
The tough response formulated by Lieberman stems, among other things,
from the foreign minister's desire to make it clear to Erdogan that
his anti-Israeli moves are not a "one-way street."
Officials in Jerusalem also noted that Turkey's global status at this
time is not promising as it is, adding that Ankara is embroiled in
tensions vis-a-vis NATO and Greece, while Erdogan's relations with
Syria and Iran are also not favorable.
"We'll exact a price from Erdogan that will prove to him that messing
with Israel doesn't pay off," Lieberman said. "Turkey better treat
us with respect and common decency."
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4119984,00.html
Ynetnews
Sept 9 2011
Israel
Jerusalem fights back: Foreign Minister Lieberman formulates series
of tough moves in response to Turkish steps; Israel to cooperate with
Armenian lobby in US, may offer military aid to Kurdish rebels
Shimon Shiffer Published: 09.09.11, 08:54 / Israel News
Jerusalem to punish Erdogan: Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has
decided to adopt a series of harsh measures in response to Turkey's
latest anti-Israeli moves, Yedioth Ahronoth reported Friday.
Senior Foreign Ministry officials convened Thursday to prepare for a
meeting to be held Saturday with Lieberman on the matter. Saturday's
session will be dedicated to discussing Israel's response to Turkish
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's recent threats and his decision
to downgrade Ankara's diplomatic ties with Jerusalem.
Following Thursday's meeting, officials assessed that Turkey is not
interested in an Israeli apology at this time and prefers to exploit
the dispute with Jerusalem in order to promote Ankara's status in
the Muslim world. Lieberman therefore decided there was no point in
seeking creative formulas for apologizing, instead choosing to focus
Israel's efforts on punishing Turkey.
The Foreign Ministry has now decided to proceed with the formulation
of a diplomatic and security "toolbox" to be used against the Turks.
The first move would be to issue a travel warning urging all Israeli
military veterans to refrain from traveling to Turkey. The advisory
will be especially harsh as it will also urge Israelis to refrain
from boarding connections in Turkey.
Another planned Israeli move is the facilitation of cooperation with
Turkey's historic rivals, the Armenians. During Lieberman's visit
to the United States this month, the foreign minister is expected
to meet with leaders of the Armenian lobby and propose anti-Turkish
cooperation in Congress.
The implication of this move could be Israeli assistance in promoting
international recognition of the Armenian holocaust, a measure that
would gravely harm Turkey. Israel may also back Armenia in its dispute
vis-a-vis Turkey over control of Mount Ararat.
'Turkey better show respect'
Lieberman is also planning to set meetings with the heads of Kurdish
rebel group PKK in Europe in order to "cooperate with them and boost
them in every possible area." In these meetings, the Kurds may ask
Israel for military aid in the form of training and arms supplies,
a move that would constitute a major anti-Turkish position should
it materialize.
However, the violent clashes between Turkey and the Kurds only
constitute one reason prompting accusations that Ankara is violating
human rights. Hence, another means in Lieberman's "toolbox" vis-a-vis
Erdogan is a diplomatic campaign where Israeli missions worldwide
will be instructed to join the fight and report illegal Turkish moves
against minorities.
The tough response formulated by Lieberman stems, among other things,
from the foreign minister's desire to make it clear to Erdogan that
his anti-Israeli moves are not a "one-way street."
Officials in Jerusalem also noted that Turkey's global status at this
time is not promising as it is, adding that Ankara is embroiled in
tensions vis-a-vis NATO and Greece, while Erdogan's relations with
Syria and Iran are also not favorable.
"We'll exact a price from Erdogan that will prove to him that messing
with Israel doesn't pay off," Lieberman said. "Turkey better treat
us with respect and common decency."
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4119984,00.html