U.S. UPSET AT TURKEY FOR PULLING PIN ON ISRAEL

Malaysia Sun
Monday 12th October, 2009

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

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Angered by the move the U.S. government has withdrawn its forces from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."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress