Barak on Turkey: Let's put past behind us
Defense minister says improving ties with Turkey is Israel's priority, slams Palestinian UN bid
"Turkey is a very important nation, one of four key nations in the region, besides Israel, of course," Barak said during an Independence Faction meeting at the Knesset. "As our ties with the Saudis are strained, in fact we have no ties, our relationship with Iran is hostile, we have peaceful ties with Egypt but it is undergoing difficult changes – it is our priority to iron out the difficulties with Turkey."
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Addressing Turkish Prime Minster Recep Erdogan's objections to Israel's blockade on the Gaza Strip, Barak noted that "Israel implemented the siege; we did something that we had no other choice but doing. What happened, happened. We are interested in putting it behind us, and moving forward. Turkey remains an important nation in the Middle East."
'PA determined to go to UN'
Barak also addressed during Monday's meeting the Palestinians intention to declare statehood in the fall.
"There are growing signs that the Palestinians are determined to turn to the UN General Assembly to gain recognition for a Palestinian state," he said. "This issue creates a complicated reality for us ahead of September.
"We are committed to the effort to convince the large nations of the world, primarily European nations, that the reason for the lack of progress in the negotiations is this Palestinian behavior," he said.
The defense minister also spoke about the charges pressed against Hezbollah members in connection with the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri.
"The issue is shaking up Lebanon," Barak said. "It is unclear whether the deeper currents behind the investigation will lead across the border, into Syria, into the government circles there.
"It really shows us who we're dealing with, who are the neighbors that we live amongst," he said.
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