Turkey cuts all trade and military ties with Israel UPDATED
Recep Tayyip Erdogan's temper tantrum continues. Now he has suspended all trade and defense ties with Israel. Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that Turkey was "totally suspending" defense industry and trade ties with Israel, after downgrading diplomatic relations with the Jewish state.YNet adds:
"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.
He also said that Turkey would implement further sanctions against Israel and said that "our ships will be seen more frequently in those waters," referring to the Eastern Mediterranean.
Erdogan described the raid as "savagery" and accused Israel of acting like "a spoiled boy" in the region.Erdogan just keeps his tantrum going. He's accusing Israel of acting like a 'spoiled boy'? That's the biggest joke of all.
Israel has expressed regret for the loss of lives, but remains adamant that no official apology for the naval operation will be issued.
The Palmer Report, commissioned by the United Nations, was dismissed by Ankara as biased.
UPDATE 4:37 PM
It's not clear to me where the mistake got made, but the reference to trade was only meant to cover inter-governmental trade in the defense and security fields. So reported Israel Radio in its 4:00 news magazine.
Of course, by the time that came through, both the stock market (about 3.5%) and the shekel (dollar now at NIS 3.675 to $1 - check that against some of the figures I was giving you a month or two ago) had been pounded.
For those wondering the extent of trade, trade between Israel and Turkey was $3.5 billion in 2010 and was up 25% for the first six months of 2011. I believe they said that Turkey is our 6th largest trading partner.
Oh - and one interesting price point. Delek, which is supposed to participate in the Cyprus drilling with Noble Energy was down 6.5% today, but part of that may have to do with an anti-trust commission investigation into the arrangements relating to the gas fields off Israel's Mediterranean coast.
Labels: Mavi Marmara, outrageous apologies, Palmer Commission, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish obsession with Israel
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 2:22 PM
3 Comments:
And he knows he's in the wrong. The Mavi Marmara backed out of Flotilla2.
Israel has a right to its national dignity. No amount of pressure Erdogan applies will lead Israel to change its position. Turkey's self-destructive behavior will not harm Israel but it will be to Turkey's detriment. Israel is not gong to be kicked around by Turkey because it didn't like the Palmer panel's findings that cleared Israel.
Alhamdulillah !
Post a Comment
<< Home