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Gabby Levy

Israel's envoy to Turkey: Relations will improve

In response to heated debate between Peres, Erdogan in Davos, ambassador to Turkey says 'we have loyal partners within the Turkish establishment who are concerned over the deteriorated ties and will work to resolve the crisis'

"This is not the first time that the relations between Israel and Turkey have destabilized, but in time they will return to normal," Israeli Ambassador to Turkey Gabby Levy said in response to the heated argument between President Shimon Peres and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan over Gaza.

 

According to Levy, Israel has "loyal partners within the Turkish establishment" who are concerned over the deteriorated ties and will work to resolve the crisis.

 

"There was tension between Israeli diplomatic staff and the Turkish political echelon during Operation Cast Lead," Levy said, "but after the IDF withdrew from Gaza, meetings were scheduled again and we were invited to conferences in which opinions were exchanged with members of the academia and the media."

 

"Past experience has shown us that during Israel's conflicts with its neighbors, such as the Second Lebanon War, the Turkish establishment tends to criticize us harshly, but when I became ambassador the relations were flourishing," he continued to say. "According to this model, I hope we'll be able to overcome this crisis as well."

 

As for the verbal sparring between Peres and Erdogan at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Levy said "at first I thought the incident had the potential to deepen the rift that had been created during the Gaza offensive, but I was pleased to hear that all parties involved tried to (mitigate the situation).

 

"The relations between Israel and Turkey are important to both countries. There is significant cooperation in the economic, military and political fields, as well as with regards to tourism. The trade with Turkey came to $3.4 billion last year." 

 


פרסום ראשון: 02.02.09, 00:58
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