The Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has had an interview with Turkish paper Hurriyet. This is the first interview of an Israeli government official to Turkish media since the Mavi Marmara incident. Although the interview does not inspire hopes for the rapprochement between Turkey and Israel.
Lieberman had talks with Turkish journalists in his Jerusalem residence. He has emphasized that most Israelis are friendly towards Turkey and that these relations do not depend on political processes. Following this, the Israeli Foreign Minister added that he could not live without "Turkish coffee". "We are one of the few countries in the world where strong coffee is called" Turkish coffee "and nothing else; taking into account that it is a favorite drink of Israelis, this also influences our attitude towards Turkey," - Lieberman said .
The Israeli Foreign Minister denied the assumption of Turkish journalists that relations between the two states worsened with the coming of Benjamin Netanyahu to power. Lieberman believes that aggravation started with the coming of Ehud Olmert to power; he added that the Turkish PM insulted Israeli President Shimon Peres at a conference in Davos.
Lieberman also noted that all attempts to improve relations failed. Neither was he able to meet his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu.
The Israeli minister said that there is nothing to apologize for over the Mavi Marmara incident, neither would it do any good. He added that Israeli troops did not expect the Turkish crew to use force against them.
Concerning the improvement of Israeli-Turkish relations, Lieberman said that it may happen in some years or may happen suddenly. Rapprochement may only be possible if Erdogan stops trying to build an image of the leader of world Islam.
Lieberman admitted that Israel proposed humanitarian aid to Syrian rebels, only to be declined. Israel has kept away from the conflict since this attempt. (At the same time, the Israeli Druze and the Arabs, together with the Jewish human rights activists, organized several convoys of food and medicine to Syria, and border guards from both sides pretended not to notice this. – P. L.)
Peter Lyukimson, Israel, exclusive to VK
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