ID :
165239
Wed, 03/02/2011 - 09:31
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/165239
The shortlink copeid
Israeli senior official likens Israel to Turkey, says efforts needed to fix things
BRUSSELS (A.A) - 01.03.2011 - Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said that Israel and Turkey should stop blaming each other and focus on fixing problems, adding that the two countries were very much alike considering their "fight against terrorism."
In his speech at a think-tank organization in Brussels, Ayalan spoke about Israel's siege of Gaza and Israeli-Turkish relations which deteriorated last year when he publicly snubbed Turkish Ambassador to Israel refusing to shake the envoy's hand and making him sit on a lower seat, and also especially after killing of nine Turks in an Israeli raid on Turkish ships carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Ayalon refused an Israeli siege of Gaza at the moment, saying his country blockaded Gaza Strip when 12,000 rockets were fired on Israeli territory from Gaza.
He said Israel feels itself very close to Turkey regarding fight against terrorism, saying Turkey would act just like Israel and not allow terrorist attacks on its people. He said Turkey suffered a lot from PKK and other terrorist organizations, adding that Turkey would be the first to understand that Israel should defend itself against Hamas.
Ayalon said what Israel was doing in Gaza was not a mass punishment because, he said, Israel was making a distinction between Gazan people and Hamas militants, whom he described as terrorists.
On Turkish-Israeli relations, Ayalon said that good relations of the two countries were very important. He said good relations would be in the interest of not only peoples of Israel and Turkey, but also entire region.
Ayalon said tension between Turkey and Israel had not developed out of Israeli acts, and he went on saying that Israeli government wanted to see Ankara developing a more balanced and fair discourse.
Ayalan added that Turkey and Israel should stop blaming each other and see what could be fixed in relations.
He said Israeli government would be pleased to continue good relations with Turkey.
In his speech at a think-tank organization in Brussels, Ayalan spoke about Israel's siege of Gaza and Israeli-Turkish relations which deteriorated last year when he publicly snubbed Turkish Ambassador to Israel refusing to shake the envoy's hand and making him sit on a lower seat, and also especially after killing of nine Turks in an Israeli raid on Turkish ships carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Ayalon refused an Israeli siege of Gaza at the moment, saying his country blockaded Gaza Strip when 12,000 rockets were fired on Israeli territory from Gaza.
He said Israel feels itself very close to Turkey regarding fight against terrorism, saying Turkey would act just like Israel and not allow terrorist attacks on its people. He said Turkey suffered a lot from PKK and other terrorist organizations, adding that Turkey would be the first to understand that Israel should defend itself against Hamas.
Ayalon said what Israel was doing in Gaza was not a mass punishment because, he said, Israel was making a distinction between Gazan people and Hamas militants, whom he described as terrorists.
On Turkish-Israeli relations, Ayalon said that good relations of the two countries were very important. He said good relations would be in the interest of not only peoples of Israel and Turkey, but also entire region.
Ayalon said tension between Turkey and Israel had not developed out of Israeli acts, and he went on saying that Israeli government wanted to see Ankara developing a more balanced and fair discourse.
Ayalan added that Turkey and Israel should stop blaming each other and see what could be fixed in relations.
He said Israeli government would be pleased to continue good relations with Turkey.
