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Turkish soldiers patrolling a road near Yuksekova in southeastern Turkey, bordering Iraq, on Monday. (Reuters)
Last update - 14:18 27/12/2007
Source: Turkey worried Israel's support waning over Kurd issue
By Yossi Melman, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: PKK, UAV, Turkey

Security sources told Haaretz on Wednesday that as Turkey steps up its offensive operations against the rebel Kurdish forces operating in northern Iraq, there is increased suspicion in the Turkish government and its defense establishment toward the United States and Israel over the issue.

According to the same sources, Turkey is following "very closely" every step and statement made by Israel and fears that Jerusalem is not supporting it in its action against the Kurds to the degree that it expects.

Turkish suspicions are in great part fueled by the history of Israel assisting Kurds in their wars in Iraq during the 1960s and 1970s, as well as recent reports that Israeli firms are involved in sales of military equipment and training assistance aimed at establishing an autonomous Kurdish administration in northern Iraq.
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Meanwhile, crews from Israel Aerospace Industries, operating unmanned aerial vehicles, are participating in Turkish military operations against PKK militants in northern Iraq, according to Turkish reports to be published today in the Turkish Daily News.

Ten days ago, the Turkish television station Star reported that IAI Heron UAVs are being used in the offensive against the Kurds.

The same report stated that Turkey's Chief of Staff, General Yasar Buyukanit, had observed the UAVs' operations in real time, in the operations room of the Batman air force base near the border with Iraq. The intelligence relayed by the UAVs was used by the Turkish Air Force in targeting the Kurdish militants.

However, in the Turkish Daily News report, a Turkish military source is quoted expressing criticism that the IAI and Elbit, which is also part of the Heron program, have failed to meet their contractual obligations and have delayed the supply of UAVs ordered for the Turkish Air Force in 2005.

"The delays have left the TuAF critically short of UAVs when intelligence input from those valuable reconnaissance assets are exceedingly required," the Turkish military official was quoted as saying.

According to the Turkish newspaper, the presence of the Israeli crews is an interim solution that was offered following the delay in the delivery of the UAVs.

IAI offered to lease Herons operated by Israeli crews, for $10 million, for a period of 12 months.

In 2004, a contract was signed between the Turkish government and a Turkish firm, on the one hand, and IAI and Elbit, to jointly develop the Heron. The original agreement stated that the delivery of the UAVs would begin in October 2007, however Turkish sources now
say that they will only be available in the spring of 2008.

The estimated value of the deal is several hundred million dollars.

In response, an IAI source said that the delay was not caused by the Israeli side, and promised that it would meet its contractual commitments.

The reports in the Turkish media about the failure of Israeli firms to meet their contractual commitments is likely to increase tensions between the two countries, even though an interim solution has been provided. On the other hand, the news that Israeli crews are involved operating the UAVs used to target Kurds, is not likely to be well received by the Kurdish government in northern Iraq.

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      1.   Turkey suspicions 03:16  |  george 27/12/07
      2.   Sure we helped the Kurds, but against Iraq. 03:27  |  Stephen. 27/12/07
      3.   I hate getting stuck on both sides of a conflict 03:57  |  Efox 27/12/07
      4.   Turkey a very difficult friend 04:02  |  Jon 27/12/07
      5.   turkey future 04:44  |  mehmet 27/12/07
      6.   So?! Turkey doesn`t support Israel against Palestinians 05:02  |  McQueen 27/12/07
      7.   George: "A Good Friend" 05:16  |  David James Vickery 27/12/07
      8.   Setting The World On Fire 05:41  |  J. Abramoff 27/12/07
      9.   Turkey does have an argument for attacking PKK 05:51  |  Marwan مروان خوري 27/12/07
      10.   To Vickery, Abramoff 07:38  |  David 27/12/07
      11.   Turkey very well should be suspicious. 08:42  |  Maureen Ann 27/12/07
      12.   playing a dangerous game AGAIN 08:43  |  Steve the Pals. 27/12/07
      13.   Turkey..a fair weather "friend" 08:58  |  David 27/12/07
      14.   Israel and Turkey 09:40  |  ERSB 27/12/07
      15.   Double Standards 10:44  |  Fairplay 27/12/07
      16.   We will not support your occupation! 11:08  |  Moshe Farin 27/12/07
      17.   MAUREEN,VICKERYetc.Where are the cries of "occupation"from you? 11:55  |  PETER SM 27/12/07
      18.   Turkey does not need Israel 12:23  |  Ahmad 27/12/07
      19.   AHMAD Israel and Turkey got on just fine for many years 12:54  |  PETER SM 27/12/07
      20.   IF TURKEY WILL DISCUSS THEIR 13:15  |  Robert 27/12/07
      21.   If you spit in my face, I will *not* say its raining 13:26  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 27/12/07
      22.   TURKEY`S ISLAMIST GOVT AT CORE IS PRO-HAMAS, ANTI-ISRAEL, ANTI-US 13:42  |  Secular Turk 27/12/07
      23.   21. and if you spit in my face yahoooooodi i will get even 14:01  |  not one grain 27/12/07
      24.   22. Doenmeh they wont take you and you dont like us 14:06  |  Islamist 27/12/07
      25.   FAIRPLAY.EU giving Turkey a hard time doesnt help keep it in NATO 14:10  |  PETER SM 27/12/07
      26.   the remedy in turkey is another military coup 14:10  |  victor hardman 27/12/07
      27.   Turkey - Israel - Kurds 14:18  |  Chris 27/12/07
      28.   Why world is afraid of ISLAMIC TURKEY ? 14:26  |  Atilla Karagözoğlu 27/12/07
      29.   Who needs SECULAR TURKEY ! and WHY ? 14:29  |  Atilla Karagözoğlu 27/12/07
      30.   VICKERY, ISRAEL AND MUSLIM COUNTRIES 14:30  |  Brant 27/12/07
      31.   Message 24 of Islamist 14:38  |  TurkishJew 27/12/07
      32.   #23: exactly! not one grain, but as many as the stars 14:38  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 27/12/07
      33.   well there goes the Turkey water deal 14:39  |  realist 27/12/07
      34.   Turkey ! The Play Toy in todays world ! 14:47  |  Atilla Karagözoğlu 27/12/07
      35.   not one grain -- you`ve missed the boat. The grains are owned 14:49  |  bbl 27/12/07
      36.   ISLAM FINDS ITS OWN CHARACTER WITH THE TURKS ! 14:50  |  Atilla Karagözoğlu 27/12/07
      37.   35. boat goes to malta 14:54  |  not one grain 27/12/07
      38.   Genocide of the Kurds 14:54  |  Brod 27/12/07
      39.   what happened to CHARACTER NATION ? 14:56  |  Atilla Karagözoğlu 27/12/07
      40.   zionism!! making friends everywhere!!! 15:16  |  i ain`t lying 27/12/07
      41.   Turkey has been a good ally to the US...and an example 15:21  |  The Equalizer 27/12/07
      42.   Atilla Karagozoglu is a fake name 15:25  |  Hasan 27/12/07
      43.   a cumbrous friend for Israel 16:54  |  jean marie 27/12/07
      44.   equalizer # 41 turkey has not been a good ally of the usa 16:58  |  terrornator 27/12/07
      45.   @38 Question to Brod 17:06  |  Mark B. 27/12/07
      46.   Turkey Needs New Secular Democratic Leaders 17:09  |  soa 27/12/07
      47.   Attila Karagozoglu - Civility and Pride 17:16  |  soti 27/12/07
      48.   soa, Muslim tradition of Turkey is a gold mine 17:32  |  Mark B. 27/12/07
      49.   TO UNDERSTAND ISLAM ! 17:38  |  Atilla Karagözoğlu 27/12/07
      50.   Secular Turk (22) scoring 100% 17:42  |  Karl 27/12/07
      51.   To Karl and Secular Turk 17:55  |  Mark B. 27/12/07
      52.   Islamist (24) you represent altogether about 60% of the Turks.... 18:28  |  Karl 27/12/07
      53.   George Washington 18:39  |  Spinoza Machievelli 27/12/07
      54.   we do not give carte blanche neither does turkey on our actions 19:01  |  ralph 27/12/07
      55.   Ahmad from Izmir 19:02  |  David Israel 27/12/07
      56.   52. karl in germany i doubt you hold a majority opinion 19:04  |  observer 27/12/07
      57.   S3ecular Turk - I agree with you but have questions 19:09  |  David Israel 27/12/07
      58.   turkey...kurds .. beware 19:10  |  ravi 27/12/07
      59.   44 Terrormater, but they did eventually allow a flyover 19:12  |  The Equalizer 27/12/07
      60.   Hasan #42 - Atilla is a comedian don`t worry 19:22  |  David Israel 27/12/07
      61.   Mark B - About economic upswing and civil liberties 19:38  |  David Israel 27/12/07
      62.   52. Karl the dispora zionist in Germany 19:54  |  ben kepin`trak 27/12/07
      63.   Mark (51), this problem shows again how different we.... 19:55  |  Karl 27/12/07
      64.   support for turkey 20:48  |  peter koritschoner 27/12/07
      65.   Turkey and Israel 20:58  |  P. J. Casey 27/12/07
      66.   Turkey protecets its citizens 21:12  |  Charles13850 27/12/07
      67.   VICKERY Maureen.You have gone very quiet. 21:23  |  PETER SM 27/12/07
      68.   TURKISH JEW.Doenmeh Islamic conversion often under duress 21:30  |  PETER SM 27/12/07
      69.   "ABRAMOFF" Re Setting the world on fire.Brothers did a great job 21:39  |  PETER SM 27/12/07
      70.   To ALL the hopefuls,forget it.Kurds are fighting Arabs&Iran