Israel Matzav

It starts: Erdogan hints Israel behind Istanbul protests

Multiple sources are reporting that Mossad director Tamir Pardo was in Turkey on Monday and met with Hakan Fidan, Turkey's Intelligence undersecretary. But there are differing reports as to the meeting's subject. This is from the first link.

Pardo met with Hakan Fidan, Turkey's Intelligence undersecretary, in Ankara Monday, the Hurriyet Daily News reported Wednesday.

Sources told the newspaper the Israeli intelligence chief and Fidan shared information on the situation in Syria and Iran's influence in the country. They also discussed intelligence-sharing in the future, the sources said.

Suspicions that the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and Syrian intelligence unit al-Mukhaberat are working against Turkey were also part of the discussion, the Turkish newspaper said.

But the second link gives priority to a different subject.

Fidan and Pardo discussed the ongoing protests in Turkey, which started two weeks ago to oppose a development project in Istanbul’s Taksim Gezi Park and spread to the other parts of the country.

The two intelligence officials discussed the possible influence of the intelligence organizations of regional countries on the Gezi Park protests in Turkey. Pardo requested an appointment to meet with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Erdoğan, however, has not yet responded to this request.

Actually, Erdogan has responded, but not in the way we would have hoped (Hat Tip: Joshua I).

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has reiterated his belief that the Gezi Park protests have external connections, adding that the interest lobby and foreign news outlets were also involved. “Those against whom we said ‘one minute’ are now delighted,” Erdoğan was quoted as saying during a meeting with the chairman of the Confederation of Turkish Craftsmen and Tradesmen (TESK) Bendevi Palandöken on June 12.

Erdoğan notoriously reacted by uttering “one minute” to Israeli President Shimon Peres during the 2009 Davos Economic Forum.

“Even if not in such a manner, we had foreseen these events as a series of conspiracies three months ago. We had received some intelligence reports,” Erdoğan also said.

You didn't think he'd blame Syria or Iran, did you?

Labels: Istanbul, Mossad, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Tamir Pardo, Turkish obsession with Israel, Turkish spring

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:16 PM