The Jerusalem Post: Israel may reject Turkish arms request

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.