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Turkey Draws Away from Israel: On the way to Cooperation Agreement with Syria
Turkey draws away from Israel: Syria announced Sunday that it will hold a large-scale military exercise in cooperation with Turkey. And this is against the background of a deterioration of political relations between Turkey and Israel. The U.S. condemned Turkey over the cancellation of the joint air maneuver with Israel.
The announcement was proclaimed against the background of the deterioration of relations between Jerusalem and Ankara. This occurred as a result of the Turkish government’s last-minute decision to exclude Israel from the joint air maneuver. Earlier yesterday, Syria's foreign minister, Walid Muallem, welcomed the decision, saying that “Israel attacked the Palestinians in Gaza and rejected efforts for peace.”
These statements were made by Syria’s Foreign Minister at a meeting yesterday between the two countries’ senior ministers, in which they signed a cooperation agreement that also deals with security issues, and includes a mutual cancellation of visas requirements for entry into the two countries.
Discussions will continue over the next few days in Turkey, and during the next month an agreement for even wider cooperation will likely be signed in Damascus.
Meanwhile, the United States yesterday condemned Turkey over the cancellation of the joint air maneuver with Israel, which was supposed to take place in its territory.
US State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley made it clear that the United States “thinks it’s inappropriate for any nation to be removed from an exercise like this at the last minute.” The spokesman confirmed that Israel had indeed been invited to the exercise, and that Turkey was the one that canceled its participation.
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