arpad: (Default)
arpad ([personal profile] arpad) wrote2011-09-11 06:18 pm

Hurriyet daily news

Daily reading : Hurriyet daily news - a Turkish newspaper in English

It is sickening to watch how Turkish government officials take turns in slandering Israel.

Sometimes they get too pompous for their own good:
"Last year we exported agricultural products of 180-190 million dollars to Israel and bought only around one fifth or one fourth of that amount [mostly seeds]," Eker told reporters, adding that Turkey is not dependent on Israeli agricultural products.
Well, Turkey is not an only country where agriculture minister has a weak grasp of economics.

But humor aside - even complete breaking ties with Israel economy won't harm Ankara much. Trade volume with Israel is below 3% of overall Turkish import/export. Military will be hit harder - contracts with Israel covered there some sensitive areas, but the gap is not critical and can be filled by a different supplier.

The loss of Turkey as a strategic ally is a blow. But it is a result of what Turkey has become, not what Israel has – or has not – done.

And frankly - I am glad that we aren't friendly with this new Turkey. It would be a shame to harbor such friends.

[identity profile] jordan179.livejournal.com 2011-09-11 03:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, I'm glad to hear Erdogan backed down. I wasn't hoping that Israel and Turkey would fight -- only that Israel would fight if Turkey escorted the convoy. If the Turks aren't going to escort the convoy, than Israel has no good cause for war against Turkey, and hence fighting would be both immoral and stupid.