Satellite project to prompt new Israel-Turkey crisis?
Israel asked Ankara not to sell images of its territory taken by new satellite to other countries, Palestinians, Turkish paper reports. Ankara not quick to comply
Turkey’s Göktürk electro-optical satellite project continues to weigh on Jerusalem-Ankara relations. Turkish newspaper Today's Zaman reported that Israel is trying to persuade Turkey not sell satellite images of its territory to other countries or the Palestinians and warned of a new crisis between the nations.
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According to the paper, the project will enable Turkey to acquire high-resolution images for military intelligence in Europe, the Caucasus and the Middle East and help it fight Kurdish rebels.
Concerned that the satellite will gather images of its territory, Israel has pressured France, which is working on the construction of the satellite in cooperation with an Italian-based company, to stop the project.
Earlier this year, Egyptian press reported that Israel told the Italian company it will provide it with satellite components as long as it does not allow the satellite to be used in its territory.
Meanwhile, it seems the Israeli efforts are not bearing fruit. "We will decide how to use the images taken by our satellite,” high-level officials from the Turkish Defense Ministry told Today's Zaman.
“For years, Israel has obtained images of our territory. For the first time, we will have a satellite for intelligence. Reciprocity is essential in international relations. If they observe Turkish soil, Turkey has the same right, too,” they added.
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