Author: Peter Lukimson, Israel, exclusively for VK
Israeli politicians are discussing rumours that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is suffering from a serious illness. Israeli businessmen are probably the source of the rumours, due to their regular visits to Turkey and conversations with high-ranking officials there.
Erdogan recently had intestinal surgery. Although doctors say that the operation was a success and nothing threatens the Turkish premier, many noticed that Erdogan has not attended government sessions recently, and has cancelled his visit to Qatar, where he planned to demonstrate his healthy condition. All planned meetings, including the meeting with US Vice-President Joe Biden, were held at his house rather than his office. Biden said that their meeting continued for 2 hours rather than 45 minutes. The Turkish leader seemed tired, but many consider those words made up.
Israel regards the information as rumours and gives them little account. It is still a curious fact that Erdogan’s resignation would be disadvantageous for Israel. They believe that Israeli-Turkish relations in the last days have become more or less satisfactory. Erdogan behaves predictably. Any change of power would bring destabilization in Turkey against the background of developments in Iran, Egypt, Lebanon and Syria, which Israel fears the most.
