Israel seeks Turkish airbase for attack on Iran: Report

[Rostam]

Israel seeks Turkish airbase for attack on Iran: Report

A file photo of an F-21 Kfir aircraft

recent report says the visit by Israeli National Security Council Head Yaakov Amidror to Turkey is aimed at securing an airbase in Iran’s neighbor to pave the way for a military attack against the Islamic Republic.


In an article, the Sunday Times said that during his visit on Sunday, Amidror is expected to solicit Turkey’s agreement with regard to the deployment of Israeli fighter jets in Akinci airbase, northwest of Ankara, in exchange for advanced military equipments and technology, the Times of Israel reported.


“Until the recent crisis, Turkey was our biggest aircraft carrier. Using the Turkish airbases could make the difference between success and failure once a showdown with Iran gets underway,” Sunday Times quoted an unnamed Israeli military source as saying.

Ankara agreed to restore relations with Tel Aviv on March 22 after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apologized to Turkey for the deaths of nine Turkish activists in a 2010 Israeli attack on a Gaza-bound international flotilla.

Israel also agreed to pay compensation to the families of those who were killed by Israeli commandos. The apology was brokered by US President Barack Obama during his recent visit to Israel.

The Israeli source added that the regime’s military has been “lobbying hard for the politicians to find a form of apology, in order to restore the Israeli-Turkish alliance against Syria and Iran.”

The trip comes as the Israeli military chief recently repeated its war threats against Iran, saying the regime can invade Iran on its own.

"We have our plans and forecasts... If the time comes we'll decide" on whether to take military action against Iran, Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz said on April 16.

Netanyahu has also recently said that the US-engineered sanctions against Iran over its nuclear energy program might not be enough.

The US, Israel and some of their allies accuse Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program with the Israeli regime repeatedly threatening to attack Iran's nuclear facilities based on the unsubstantiated allegation.

Iran argues that as a committed signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it has every right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. Iran has further promised a crushing response to any act of aggression against it.

Unlike Iran, Israel, which is widely believed to possess between 200 to 400 nuclear warheads, is a non-signatory to the NPT and continues to defy international calls to join the treaty.

PressTV - Israel seeks Turkish airbase for attack on Iran: Report

 

[SajeevJino]

KC 135 is on the way no need of Addition Airbase from other country

 

[raptor22]

I don't know why we don't make a bomb, we are under toughest sanctions ever for what? why are we smiling? actually they don't wanna lift sanction and as it appears are about to wage another war then why should we be the next victim? if they want it in this way , why not?

 

[-SINAN-]

Israel just trying to act tough. Turkey already denied this report.

 

[Rostam]

US seeks Israel-Turkey alliance against Iran: Franklin Lamb

An analyst says the warming up to Turkey is so Israel can seek to have a military base on Turkish soil to be in closer proximity to attack Iran.


In the background of this United States Secretary of State John Kerry said the unrest in Syria and Iran’s nuclear program are mutual threats to the security of the United States, Israel and Turkey in the region. The British Sunday Times news paper meanwhile said Israeli officials are seeking to use a military base in Ankara to train for a possible attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities. John Kerry refused to comment on that report, instead promoting strong mutual interests between the US, Turkey and Israel in his speech.

Press TV has interviewed Franklin Lamb, political analyst and international lawyer, Beirut about this issue. The following is an approximate transcription of the interview.

Press TV: Looking at this situation, first of all let’s look at this trio that John Kerry is saying that basically they have so many mutual security interests - Israel, Turkey and the United States talking about security interests - What does that say about Ankara?

Lamb: Well, I’d just like to say what it says about American policy and John Kerry because he omitted from those national security interests of the Americans a resolution of the question of Palestine.

It is the occupation of Palestine that leads to some of these other problems, but unfortunately he ignored it.


I don’t think that Ankara is that influenced by his words. Of course, he wants to placate the lobby domestically in the US and in the region. But I think the Turks, they have their own idea about full normalization of relations anytime very soon.


Of course, Netanyahu announces it a fait accompli. I think it’s less than that, I think it remains and will remain for a while, a contentious issue.

But let’s see about the next question, which is the compensation which has been slow in coming.

Press TV: I want to concentrate in general - you just talked about the compensation - but it is interesting that it took several years for Israel to actually apologize. And as we have seen some of the relatives of those who have been killed are saying they do not want to accept monetary compensation because it basically is almost as if they had forgotten their loved ones.

The point of it is, why is the United States - obviously they are very encouraged and they are trying to push this - but in general there was no condemnation to begin with, not from the United States. And now they are trying to push this relationship.

Why is it so important for Washington that Tel Aviv and Ankara have very close ties?

Lamb: Yes. And of course as you recall one of the victims of that Israeli attack on the boat (Mavi Marmara) was an American. But very little was said about him.

But I think the interests of Obama in the administration right now is to push this reconciliation to pressure who? Iran. Why? Because the Israelis want a base near Ankara where they can target possibly, the Iranians.

You don’t get results out of the Israelis by talking sweet. Americans are the subject of jokes amongst the Zionist occupiers when they try to persuade them. Those guys are tough, the Zionists and if you want to get their attention, threaten to cut off American aid, threaten to cut off American arms and then they’ll get serious.

But I think this is a part of the hope of ratcheting up yet more and more layers of pressure against the Islamic Republic (of Iran). It’s not going to work any more than the non-military aid that they’re threatening the regime in Syria with.

And if I could just mention just one thing about the new 135 million dollars worth of non-military aid... As you know, the language of the American government is English and any middle school student who studies English knows what a ‘non-sequitur’ is - it’s a group of words that contradict each other. There’s no such thing as ‘non-lethal military’ aid.

They want night goggles. Who likes night goggles? The snipers so they can kill people at night. Who likes the armored vehicles that the Americans are saying are non-lethal? Those that want to transport troops and weapons. Who likes the non-military humanitarian aid of telecommunications equipment? Those who are organizing ambushes and bringing in troops and advancing.

So, there is no such thing as non-lethal military aid and the administration knows that.

PressTV - US seeks Israel-Turkey alliance against Iran: Franklin Lamb

Israel to Offer Turkey Missiles for Access Against Iran

As Israel and Turkey work to mend relations Jerusalem is expected to begin negotiating with Turkey over receiving permission to place a strategic strike force in Turkey in preparation for a possible military assault against Iran.

Prior to the Marvi Mamara commando raid in May 2010 against a ship seeking to break Israel’s embargo on Gaza, the two nations enjoyed good relations including widespread military cooperation. After Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu a short time ago decided to issue a formal apology and offer compensation to the families of Turkish nationals killed in the operation, the two nations are now working to restore ties, albeit slowly and with an air of caution.

National Security Advisor Yaakov Amidror is expected to visit Ankara this week to sign documents towards renewed cooperation and he will offer Turkey advanced missile defense technology with the realization Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is quite concerned regarding the Iranian nuclear threat as is Israel. The offer of the missile systems will be contingent on permitting the IDF a foothold in a Turkish Air Force base northeast of Ankara. Amidror’s assignment will not be an easy one as moving ahead militarily will be contingent on reaching agreement between Israel and Turkey regarding the amount of compensation to be made to each of nine families. Israel was offering a total of $1 million while Erdogan is seeking about $1 million per family. Amidror will be trying to resuscitate an agreement between the countries from 1996, permitting Israel military training rights on Turkish soil. The agreement permits the IAF to practice in Turkish air space and use the air force base in question. In return, Turkish pilots take part in training exercises in IAF bases in the Negev. Amidror will have to enlist the support of a number of veteran Israeli allies in Turkey to overcome the compensation package obstacle in the hope of renewed military cooperation against the common foe, the Iranian nuclear threat.

Despite the tensions existing since the Marmara affair, the IAF has maintained contact with Turkish Air Force commanders amid a realization pilots may encounter one another while flying over the Mediterranean.

Amidror is authorized to make a generous offer to Ankara, which is concerned over the Iranian threat as well as the ongoing civil war in Syria. Ankara is anxious to get hold of the Arrow missile defense system as well as other advanced missile technology, including a thermal recognition weapons system that would give Turkish pilots a major advantage, enabling the identification of a target up to 150km (90 miles) away even in adverse weather conditions.

Israeli military assistance to Turkey in the past has been essential in that country’s battle against Kurds and rebel forces over decades. Today, Turkish concerns are focused on the Syrian border, as the civil war seems to be escalating daily.

Despite cautious optimism and similar concerns vis-à-vis Syria and Iran, Amidror and his delegation will not have an easy time as they meet with the nation’s deputy prime minister and deputy foreign minister. Complicating Amidror’s mission somewhat is sudden decision by Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades to visit Israel. Cyprus is Turkey’s sworn enemy, and the former is concerned regarding ramifications for his country as a result of the mending of fences between Israel and Turkey. After his successful reelection Anastasiades congratulated Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, while warning of concerns surrounding ongoing Israeli efforts to get back into Ankara’s good favor. It is these very concerns that prompted a visit by Cypriot officials two weeks ago, seeking to signal business as usual despite the anxiety surrounding a deal between Israel and Turkey may come at the expense of ties with Cyprus.

Israel, Turkey and Cyprus share a marine border and Turkey and Cyprus are in an ongoing dispute over territorial rights and control, a dispute which has already resulted in Cyprus calling on its ally, Jerusalem, to support its position. During the upcoming presidential visit, Anastasiades will address this issue with Prime Minister Netanyahu as well as continued military cooperation between the two countries.

Minister of Regional Cooperation Silvan Shalom has already released a statement ahead of the upcoming visit, that efforts to renew ties with Turkey will not come at the expense of the relationship with Israel’s staunch ally, Cyprus, which include cooperation in military, gas and energy and other areas.

The Yeshiva World Israel to Offer Turkey Missiles for Access Against Iran « » Frum Jewish News

 

[SOHEIL]

I don't know why we don't make a bomb, we are under toughest sanctions ever for what? why are we smiling? actually they don't wanna lift sanction and as it appears are about to wage another war then why should we be the next victim? if they want it in this way , why not?

or something better than nukes !!! who knows !?

 

[Sergi]

I don't know why we don't make a bomb, we are under toughest sanctions ever for what? why are we smiling? actually they don't wanna lift sanction and as it appears are about to wage another war then why should we be the next victim? if they want it in this way , why not?

Cause right now the war is just a threat.
If you make one it will be reality.
Both sides now you can make one. The question is will you be dumb( no offence intended but couldn't find any word to replace it ) enough to make one and admit it. I think not.

Making one now will just screw things up. Instead Iran should build the capacity but should not build one and use that as a bargain chip.
War isn't in anybody's favour and will cause damage to both sides. But with the difference Iran will have to suffer more.

or something better than nukes !!! who knows !?

And what that would be ???

There is no other thing than nukes that will give Iran edge over US/Israel

 

[The SiLent crY]

I don't know why we don't make a bomb, we are under toughest sanctions ever for what? why are we smiling? actually they don't wanna lift sanction and as it appears are about to wage another war then why should we be the next victim? if they want it in this way , why not?

Take it easy dude , IR politicians know what to do .when proper time comes many puppets gonna regret for their mistakes .

 

[SOHEIL]

Take it easy dude , IR politicians know what to do .when proper time comes many puppets gonna regret for their mistakes .

& that time coming soon !!!

And what that would be ???

There is no other thing than nukes that will give Iran edge over US/Israel

You're About to Find Out ...

 

[Sergi]

You're About to Find Out ...

When ??? Soon ???

Still I find it really hard to believe that there can be any conventional thing that can help your cause. Surprise us

 

[Juice]

Sounds like a rumour to whip up anti-jew feeling in Turkey. Does anyone really think Isreal would ask for bases to attack a third party from Turkey in the current climate? Critical thinking people!

 

[BLACKEAGLE]

This Press-Tv has gone crazy. It's unbelievable how a state sponsored media could reach this level of nonsense.

 

[Ahiska]

Like always the anti jewish media in Turkey................
And like always the Iranian jump on that.

 

[BeyondHeretic]

you mean Syria?