MIDEAST: Analyst comments on Israel's efforts to mend ties with Turkey

Record ID: 396257

  • Title: MIDEAST: Analyst comments on Israel's efforts to mend ties with Turkey
  • Date: 2nd July 2010
  • Summary: JERUSALEM (JULY 1, 2010) (REUTERS) NEWSPAPER HEADLINES REPORTING ISRAELI MINISTER OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY BENJAMIN BEN ELIEZER HAS MET WITH TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER, AHMET DAVUTOGLU PHOTO OF BEN ELIEZER MEETING DAVUTOGLU IN 2009 HEADLINE READING (English): 'BEN ELIEZER MEETS WITH TURKISH FM IN EFFORT TO RESOLVE THE BILATERAL CRISIS' HEADLINE READING (Hebrew): 'THE MEETIN
  • Embargoed: 17th July 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAEIJB5XBD0NG7YBJF7K6VM0XG8
  • Story Text: Israeli analyst comments on the news of an Israeli minister holding secret talks with Turkish FM in a bid to ease tensions between the two states after deadly flotilla raid.
    A member of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet has held secret talks with the Turkish foreign minister in an attempt to salvage ties frayed by the Gaza aid ship raid, Israeli television said on Wednesday (June 30).
    Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, Israel's trade and industry minister and a former defence chief, met Ahmet Davutoglu in Europe, Channel Two said. It did not specify the location but said Ben-Eliezer's unannounced mission had taken him to Zurich.
    A spokeswoman for the Turkish embassy in Tel Aviv said she had no knowledge of such a meeting, which could mark a flagging of Ankara's fury at Israel since its forces killed nine Turks aboard an aid ship bound for the blockaded Gaza Strip on May 31.
    Asked about the television report, Netanyahu's office said in a statement the Prime Minister was informed of the meeting.
    Israeli IBA Television channel's political analyst, Ayala Hasson said the meeting drew criticism from within the Jewish state.
    "In Israel I hear a lot of voices that were against the meeting, against the fact that Israel should talk now to (with ) Turkey who actually is responsible to (for) the flotilla and all the outcome of this flotilla to Israel, so it's not the time," Hasson told reuters Television in Tel Aviv.
    Hasson said she did not believe the meeting would lead to a substantial breakthrough in Israel-Turkey ties.
    "I think the meeting was a political request of this Israeli minister to be involved in the political issues and not a real substantial meeting that will lead to something good between Turkey and Israel."
    Turkey withdrew its ambassador to Israel after the flotilla crisis and cancelled joint military exercises with the Jewish state.
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