The rapprochement between Syria and Turkey concerns Israel
Syria-Turkey, Politics, 11/16/2000

The Turkish daily Yani Savak said in its Wednesday issue that Israel is following up closely the Turkish closeness with Syria and the Middle East states, noting that these recent developments constitute a serious concern for Tel Aviv.

The Turkish paper quoted a report prepared by a US expert Mack Oski who specializes in Turkish affairs and a US institute which works for Israel saying that after the detention of Abdullah Ocalan and Turkey started to have flexible relations with Syria, the Turkish relations with Israel has become of no vital importance.

In his report, the US expert indicated that the Turkish foreign minister Ismael Cim might visit Damascus to prepare for the visit to be held by President Bashar al-Assad to Ankara. He said that Syria still demands water and the territories from Turkey and that Turkey had established strong relations with Israel in order to cut the Syrian support for the Kurdistani Workers Party and to frighten Syria.

The US expert expected the possibility that Turkey will limit weapons purchase from Israel and visits of the Turkish high level delegations to Tel Aviv in light of Israel shedding the blood of Palestinians.

The US expert said that Turkey has recently made measures which pleased Israel when it openly opposed the declaration of an independent Palestinian state in September and when it also inspected the Iranian plane which crossed the Turkish airspace on its way to Damascus to make sure that this plane was not carrying weapons to Hizbullah.

But the American experts concluded by saying that the Turkish- Israeli relations are built on solid grounds, adding that Israel is still the most important ally for Turkey in the Middle East.

Previous Stories:
  On the meeting between al-Assad and Cezar in Doha   (11/14/2000)
  Khaddam concludes successful visit to Turkey   (11/4/2000)
  On Khaddam's visit to Turkey   (11/4/2000)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search