Barak: Timing of meeting with Turkish FM not right
Defense minister tells Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee he recently turned down offer to meet with Turkish foreign minister, as 'it was clear to me that the meeting's goal was to present their claims against us'
Speaking at the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Barak elaborated on the crisis in Israel's relations with Turkey and the attempts to ease the tensions.
"During my visit to the United States two weeks ago, the Turks tried to have me meet with their foreign minister and ambassador in Washington," he told the Knesset members. "It was clear to me that the meeting was aimed at clarifying Turkey's stand and presenting claims against us, like an international inquiry, compensation, etcetera. So I thought it would be wrong to hold such a meeting."
Ynet has learned that during Barak's stay in the US he received other appeals for a high-ranking meeting with a Turkish official at a European capital, but that the defense minister decided to turn down the offers foe fear that the Turks would take advantage of the opportunity to throw accusations at Israel.
He said that when he had returned to Israel, Netanyahu had asked him about a possible meeting between Ben-Eliezer and the Turkish foreign minister.
"I expressed my opinion, saying that I believed it was neither the suitable time nor the right timing. The next day, Minister Ben-Eliezer told me that he had talked to the prime minister and that they had agreed he would meet with the Turkish foreign minister. I wished him good luck with the meeting."
As for the relations with Turkey, Barak said Israel had no interest in creating a conflict but that it would not be right "to turn a blind eye to the depth and nature of the trends we are seeing there."
The defense minister warned that additional flotillas may try to reach Gaza, as the one being organized in Lebanon, adding that the ships which were slated to leave from Iran may still set sail.
'Shalit only one who needs aid in Gaza'
Moving on to other security-related issues, Barak said that "we have decided to ease the siege, but have no intention of lifting the naval blockade on Gaza. We seek to prevent the inflow of rockets, missiles and weapons. The next Gaza-bound flotillas will also pass through the Ashdod Port and be checked there. What is allowed to go in will go in."
The defense minister mentioned Gilad Shalit, just several hours after the kidnapped soldier's family and supporters protested outside his home in Tel Aviv.
"The siege on Gaza stems from considerations which are mainly security-related. There is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The only person in need of aid in Gaza is Gilad Shalit. Four years after Shalit was taken captive by Hamas, we continue to make every effort to release him and are looking for the right way to bring him back. This is not the place to elaborate on the moves and efforts being taken."
Shalit's parents outside Barak's home, Monday (Photo: Ofer Amram)
Barak devoted most of his statement to the Palestinian issue and Israel's international status. "I estimate that in the coming months we will know whether we are moving in a direction which will change the political picture. From this point of view, the prime minister's visit to Washington is very important. Israel must take initiative and strengthen the foundation of our relations with the United States."
He detailed the moves he said should be taken as part of the peace process. "I believe Israel should take its own political initiative in order to curb the attempts to isolate us and delegitimize us in the world.
"This initiative's second goal is to preserve our special relations with the United States, to which Israel is connected both in its strength and in its political freedom of action and, in some way, in its security-related abilities.
"The third goal is tightening our relations with the moderate camp in the Arab world. On routine days we tend to ignore the importance of the peace with Egypt and Jordan. We must remember the need to coordinate our stands with this moderate camp as much as possible.
"The fourth need," Barak continued, "is to build a political horizon while advancing the 'bottom-up' plan of the fetal Palestinian state, including strengthening its defense system on the ground, activating its law enforcement system, improving the relations between us and focusing on continuing the war on terror.
"These actions are needed in order to determine the actual look of the two states for two people plan, if and when a diplomatic breakthrough occurs. We must grab the bull by its horns in the middle of the ring and in front of the world, or at least in a closed room with President Obama.
"We must advance the initiative of creating a border in the heart of the State of Israel, according to security and demographic considerations, in a way that the nearby settlement blocs will remain in our hands, but will allow the establishment of a demilitarized Palestinian state."
Addressing the Syrian and regional issue, the defense minister said that "there is no way to guarantee the results on the Syrian channel and regional channel in advance, but there will be irreversible and heavy damage in Israel if we prevent such a process.
"The defense establishment is aware of the importance of the need to exhaust all opinion in order to remove Syria from the radical axis through negotiations, while maintaining our security interest.
"But in the past few years we have been sharing a large security interest with many countries in the region: Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Gulf states. This interest is backed by and coordinated with the Americans, in order to face the threats of radical terror, particularly from Iran. On the Iranian issue, it's not just an Israeli challenge but a challenge for the entire world order – the United States, Europe, Russia and all the rest."
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