Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., October 08, 2009 Tishrei 20, 5770 | | Israel Time: 08:19 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Jewish World Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Focus U.S.A. Strenger than Fiction Business Real Estate Magazine Week's End Anglo File Books
Share |
Last update - 01:05 30/01/2009
'Terrorist state' or not, Israel expected to sell drones to Turkey
By Zvi Bar'el
Tags: Turkey, UAVs, Israel News 

Turkey is expected to receive its first shipment of attack drones from Israel next month, despite the comments by its prime minister during the Gaza offensive that Israel was a terrorist state. Turkey is also expected to receive another shipment of Heron drones from Israel.

According to Turkish sources and reports in the Turkish media, the predominantly Muslim country under Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to buy drones known as the Harpy. This armed UAV, developed by Elbit and Israel Aerospace Industries, participated in the Gaza offensive and killed Hamas militants.

Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul was reportedly impressed with the Harpy's performance on his visit to Israel in October. Another factor in Turkey's decision to buy from Israel may be the delay in a final decision by the United States on whether to sell Turkey Predator drones.
Advertisement
Turkish sources say Turkey would rather buy the Predator because of its rich combat experience in Iraq and Afghanistan. One Turkish source said the reports about the deal with Israel were leaked to try to persuade the Americans to cut through the red tape and approve the sale.

Turkey and Israel signed a deal for the supply of Heron drones to the tune of $180 million in 2005, but delays and malfunctions in the cameras mounted on the drones pushed back delivery by more than one year.

In December, Turkey received two Heron UAVs, and another three units are expected to be shipped in February. Despite Erdogan's harsh statements about Israel during the Gaza operation, Israeli sources say the two countries still cooperate on security matters.

"The two countries are connected by their defense needs," one Israeli source said. "The Turkish defense establishment is behaving as though there were no diplomatic crisis, and the diplomats are behaving as though there were no military cooperation."

Related articles:
  • WATCH: Turkey PM storms off stage over Peres remarks on Gaza
  • Turkish PM: Obama must rethink definition of Mideast terror
  • U.S. Jewish leaders call on Turkey to curb anti-Semitic outbursts
    • PROMOTION: Mamilla Hotel
    Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Israel's noble victory
    Israeli scientist Ada Yonath becomes first woman to win Nobel in chemistry since 1964.
    Using the Holocaust
    Netanyahu harms the ethics of memory that Ahmadinejad is incapable of endorsing.
      1.   Turkey and the Palestinians 01:57  |  Leo 30/01/09
      2.   Diplomacy in Davos 04:15  |  S.Yakar 30/01/09
      3.   For Leo # 1 04:15  |  Fortuna Benmayor 30/01/09
      4.   Turkey`s "moderate Islamism" under Erdogan. 04:21  |  Fortuna Benmayor 30/01/09
      5.   Israel Used to Be Friends With Iran Too.... 05:42  |  ott 30/01/09
      6.   Relax relax, it`ll be over soon 09:56  |  Eric 30/01/09
      7.   don`t worry! 14:51  |  Murat 30/01/09
      8.   Turkey will give the Israel Heron to Iranien Revolutinary Guard 17:39  |  dcguy 30/01/09
      9.   Don`t loose Turkey as a friend. 19:06  |  Meital Lasry 30/01/09
      10.   Hizballah will need these drones 20:41  |  Vizard 30/01/09
      11.   Turkey...Friend? 21:00  |  David 30/01/09
      12.   # 3 to fortuna benmayor re: palestinians (2nd try) 08:02  |  eric 31/01/09
      13.   Turkish technology 04:59  |  Hakan 08/10/09
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
    Holiday Greetings from the Heart
    LIBI-Caring for Israeli Soldiers
    JGooders Special Rosh Hashanah Gift Cards
    Send Gift Cards to you Friends and Family and Taste the Sweetness of Giving
    Date Local Jewish Singles
    Ready to meet your match? Join Jdate today!
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Amazing Jewelry
    Visit SoKoBe.com for the best priced fine jewelry in the world
    More Headlines
    03:44 U.S. official: Obama impatient with delay in peace talks
    02:34 Security Council rejects special Goldstone report session
    07:59 Jordan's king to Haaretz: Without two states, there is no future
    04:19 CIA: Israel aided in editing info on exposed Iran nuclear facility
    04:06 Temple Mount access restricted for fifth day
    04:16 Egypt-born Jew looks to buy 50% of Al-Jazeera
    04:40 Sarkozy steps up pressure over Shalit after video swap
    04:54 Israeli scientists worry 2009 Nobel may be the last
    23:05 TV ROUND-UP: Israeli wins Nobel, cornerstone laid in East Jerusalem
    05:00 Israeli writer Amos Oz hot favorite for Nobel in literature
    05:06 Cornerstone laid in East Jerusalem for Jewish quarter
    05:07 Iran: France may be ready to sell us uranium, U.S. should too
    23:15 Settler leader: Obama, keep your hands off Israel
    05:29 Tel Aviv bars offer free non-alcoholic drinks to designated drivers
    05:40 Israel marks 24% rise in suicide attempts since Dudu Topaz' death
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Site rules |
    | Advert: Recommended Restaurants | Makom: Engaging on Israel
    | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved