THE JERUSALEM POST: ISRAEL MAY REJECT TURKISH ARMS REQUEST

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.02.2009 19:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ As Turkish-Israeli diplomatic relations continue
to crumble, the close ties between the two countries in other areas
are being reexamined as well, The Jerusalem Post reports.

The Defense Ministry is considering rejecting a number of requests
by Turkey to purchase advanced Israeli-made military platforms,
officials told on Sunday.

The IDF and the Turkish military enjoy strong ties, but there is
growing concern in Israel that the military could be losing its power
and influence within and over the government.

"Turkey is eyeing moderate Arab countries and is hoping to strengthen
its ties with them," one senior defense official explained. "Just
like we don’t sell advanced military platforms to Jordan and Egypt,
we may decide not to sell to Turkey."

The defense establishment is concerned that the diplomatic crisis
with Turkey may also lead Ankara to annul an arrangement allowing
the Israel Air Force to train and fly in Turkish airspace.

"No one knows yet how this will affect our relationship on a defense
level," explained one official. "We need to wait to see how this
plays out."

While defense officials reconsider the country’s military ties to the
Turkish state, other government officials worry about the significant
business ties between the two economies.

Non-military trade accounts for almost $4 billion annually, 60 percent
of it in Turkish exports to Israel.