Turkish action on Israel angers U.S.

The London News.Net
Monday 12th October, 2009

The U.S. has reacted badly to a move by Turkey to exclude the Israel Air Force from a multi-national forces air drill.

Angered by the move the U.S. government has withdrawn its forces from the exercise, being held at an air base in the central Anatolian city of Konya.

Italy and the Netherlands have also canceled their participation in protest at the exclusion of Israel.

Turkey says its move is because of Israel's Cast Lead offensive in Gaza late last year and early this year. The offensive resulted in the deaths of more than 1,400 Palestinians, which Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has described as genocide. Erdogan is also upset that he met with the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert within a day of the offensive and was not told of Israel's plans. He says he was misled by Olmert and was "betrayed."

The Turkish prime minister also clashed with Israeli President Shimon Peres at Davos in January after declaring that Israel should be tried for war crimes.

The U.S. is a steadfast ally of Israel and within hours of the Turkish decision had canceled its involvement and secured similar pledges from Italy and the Netherlands, two of a number of NATO countries taking part in the military exercise.

Israel's Defense Minister Ehud Barak says he does not read too much into the move, stressing the relationship between Israel and Turkey is strategic and has lasted "dozens of years."

An Israeli official however on Monday was quoted by Haaretz newspaper as saying, "It may be that the reality has changed and the strategic ties that we thought existed have simply ended. Maybe we need to be the ones who initiate renewed thinking regarding our ties and must adopt response measures."

Have your say on this story