"The Sunday Times" reports that Israel will open talks with Turkey tomorrow to establish a strategic offensive force on Turkish soil ahead of a military confrontation with Iran over its nuclear program. The step follows Israel's reconciliation with Turkey mediated by US President Barack Obama.
According to "The Sunday Times", National Security Council chairman Yaakov Amidror will go to Ankara to conclude details of the reconciliation, and to offer the Turks, who are also worried about Iran's nuclearization, advanced missiles and surveillance technology in exchange for a base and training facilities at the Akinci Air Base northeast of Ankara.
The newspaper writes that Amidror's task is to reach agreement to compensation for the families of the nine Turkish citizens killed in the Israeli takeover of the Mavi Marmara, the ship attempting to break the blockade of the Gaza Strip, in May 2010, which caused the breakdown in relations between the two countries. Amidror's instructions are to try to revive the 1996 Israeli-Turkish agreement, which allows the Israel Air Force to train in Turkey's air space and use the Akinci Air Base, in exchange for which Turkish pilots were trained at Israeli facilities in the Negev. To achieve this, Amidror will seek the help of some of his old friends in Turkey."
'The Sunday Times" writes that Amidror comes to Ankara with a large offer of military goods to ease Turkish' fears of threats from Iran and missiles from Syria. Ankara wants the Arrow anti-missile system and is interested in procuring technologies developed by El-Op, including a state-of-the-art thermal imaging system which allows pilots to scan extensive areas while flying at high speed. The system creates a precise image at a range of 150 kilometers, day or night, and in bad weather. A deal was signed in 2008, after years of talks on between the two countries militaries, but was cancelled in late 2011.
According to the newspaper, Amidror will also offer cutting-edge electronic warfare systems made by Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI) (TASE: ARSP.B1) subsidiary Elta. The two systems were delivered to Turkey for testing in spy planes before the crisis in relations.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on April 21, 2013
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