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Erdogan Playing with Fire

(Ynet News) Alex Fishman - Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan is crossing the line between verbal escalation and military confrontation. Last week the Turks reported on what they characterized as an "Israeli military provocation," claiming that Israeli fighter jets hovered above a Turkish Navy taskforce securing the gas drills planned by Turkey near Cyprus. The IDF denied the report, but it makes no difference. The Turks are conveying a message that physical friction exists with Israel. A few weeks ago, a Turkish battleship sailed in the eastern Mediterranean along the same route as the Mavi Marmara while moving abnormally close to Israel's shores. While the ship did not enter Israel's territorial waters, it sailed in ranges where military vessels usually update friendly states about their presence in order to avoid misunderstandings. In general, Turkey has boosted its operations in the Mediterranean, both in the air and at sea, for no reason and without any perceptible strategic threat. A senior Turkish Foreign Ministry official recently summoned Arab ambassadors in Ankara and boasted about scrambling jets on several occasions and chasing away Israeli fighter jets flying near Syria's shores. Senior NATO officials have implored their Turkish counterparts to stop playing with fire.
2011-10-04 00:00:00
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