Israel, Turkey to sign tomorrow a terrorism fighting agreement

An Israeli source said yesterday that the minister of internal security Tsahi Hanighbi will sign tomorrow in Ankara a bilateral agreement in the field of fighting terrorism.

A spokeswoman for the Israeli embassy said that the visit of the Israeli official to Turkey came in response to the visit of the Turkish minister of the interior, Abdul Qader Akso, to Israel in September, aiming at strengthening relations in the security field. The spokeswoman added that the security cooperation agreement which the two officials will sign, covers fighting terrorism and drug trafficking operations. Hanighbi will visit on Thursday the two Jewish synagogues which were targeted by two attacks on November 15.

Worthy mentioning that Turkey and Israel signed in 1996 a military cooperation agreement, and the Turkish foreign minister Abdullah Gul is presumed to visit Israel in the first months of 2004.