Israel to ‘punish’ Turkey

[Scurrilous]

Jerusalem fights back: Foreign Minister Lieberman formulates series of tough moves in response to Turkish steps; Israel to cooperate with Armenian lobby in US, may offer military aid to Kurdish rebels

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4119984,00.html

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"Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has decided to adopt a series of harsh measures in response to Turkey’s latest anti-Israeli moves, Yedioth Ahronoth reported Friday."

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"The Foreign Ministry has now decided to proceed with the formulation of a diplomatic and security “toolbox” to be used against the Turks. The first move would be to issue a travel warning urging all Israeli military veterans to refrain from traveling to Turkey. The advisory will be especially harsh as it will also urge Israelis to refrain from boarding connections in Turkey.


Another planned Israeli move is the facilitation of cooperation with Turkey’s historic rivals, the Armenians. During Lieberman’s visit to the United States this month, the foreign minister is expected to meet with leaders of the Armenian lobby and propose anti-Turkish cooperation in Congress.

The implication of this move could be Israeli assistance in promoting international recognition of the Armenian holocaust, a measure that would gravely harm Turkey. Israel may also back Armenia in its dispute vis-à-vis Turkey over control of Mount Ararat."

<snip>

"Lieberman is also planning to set meetings with the heads of Kurdish rebel group PKK in Europe in order to “cooperate with them and boost them in every possible area.” In these meetings, the Kurds may ask Israel for military aid in the form of training and arms supplies, a move that would constitute a major anti-Turkish position should it materialize."

[oberliner]

1. Netanyahu's office distances itself from Lieberman's planned measures against Turkey

Excerpt:

The recent crisis in Israel-Turkey relations deepened after the UN-commissioned report on the 2010 Gaza flotilla raid was leaked to the New York Times, foiling a last-ditch effort to patch up relations between the two countries. Turkey then announced a series of measures against Israel, beginning with the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador and the downgrading of bilateral relations to the level of second secretary.

The PMO's office did not deny or confirm the plan, yet called for restraint with regards to statements concerning Turkey. "Our policy was and remains to prevent a breakdown of relations with Turkey and easing the tensions between the countries," it said in a statement.

The statement also said that "the prime minister and the government discussed different theoretical option in case of an escalation. Yet a decision will be made only and if necessary. Israel has and is acting responsibly and hopes Turkey will act accordingly."

Sources in the foreign ministry who were involved in the discussion told Haaretz that the recommendations made were the opposite of what was published in the media Friday. "There were various ideas," a senior foreign ministry official said, "but the foreign ministry's main recommendation to Lieberman following that discussion was to take steps to prevent a further escalation with Turkey."

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/netanyahu-s-office-distances-itself-from-lieberman-s-planned-measures-against-turkey-1.383561

[bemildred]

2. Turkish FM responded to this today, on Haaretz.

Not that interesting.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/turkey-fm-condemns-israeli-plan-to-support-pkk-1.383801

[Scurrilous]

3. Reminder: Netanyahu is responsible for Lieberman

The fact that Lieberman is still the Foreign Minister shows Netanyahu puts own interests ahead of the country’s

<snip>

"The most urgent political demand in Israel is the removal of Avigdor Lieberman from his position as foreign minister. Not the most original insight, I know, but it has to be said again.

Two days ago, Lieberman leaked his new plan for retaliation against Turkey, which he claimed was the brainchild of senior Foreign Office officials. The plan included promoting information about the Armenian genocide, and military support of the PKK, a Kurdish militia which carried terror attacks against Turkish civilians (as well as military targets), and is considered a terror organization by the US and the European Union.

What can I say? Pure genius. The idea of fighting Turkish denial of the Armenian genocide is enough to make you vomit. I doubt there is any country in the world, Turkey aside, who did so much to deny it as Israel did. Israel’s Turkish interest led to 30 years of official denial. When former Education Minister Yossi Sarid dared to speak the verboten words, he was attacked by the security apparatus. When an Israeli Armenian was chosen to light one of the flares at the Independence Day ceremony, some 15 years back, she was under tremendous pressure not to mention the events early Hebrew journalist Itamar Ben Avi published, which Ambassador Morgenthau tried to prevent, which Franz Werfel immortalized and which gave Raphael Lemkin the concept of genocide. If to deny a holocaust is to be a partner in it, Israel is Turkey’s main accomplice.

The rapid change in Israel’s position is particularly repellent: Suddenly, it reverses course and adopts the historical truth – for its own purposes, of course, and after it made every effort to deny it and made the Jewish-American establishment do the same. One can imagine a new regime in Ankara, a more friendly one, may make Israel speedily change its position on the events of 1915-1916. George Bernard Shaw said all that needs to be said about such behavior; Israel is merely bargaining for a better price.

The suggestion that Israel supply the PKK with arms is too delusional to debate seriously. Just thinking of our agents getting caught red-handed delivering explosives meant to blow up Turks, a casus belli against a NATO nation, is enough to make you shiver. What does it say about a country, whose foreign minister comes up with such suggestions? I guess we should consider ourselves lucky Lieberman didn’t publicly advocate bombing Ankara."

http://972mag.com/reminder-netanyahu-is-responsible-for-liberman/

[eyl]

4. FWIW

Lieberman denies intent to open contact with the PKK

Also on Saturday night, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said in a Channel 2 interview that there was no Israeli proposal on the agenda to help or have contact with the PKK Kurdish militant organization.

Lieberman was referring to a story in Yediot Aharonot on Friday that this was one of the steps the government was discussing as a response to threats from Ankara.