ISRAELI FOREIGN minister Avigdor Lieberman has drawn up a number of proposals to “punish” Turkey, including possible support for Kurdish rebels and co-operating with the Armenian lobby in the US.
Foreign ministry officials will meet in Jerusalem today to consider Israel’s response to Ankara’s expulsion last week of the Israeli ambassador and the cancellation of bilateral defence contacts.
Relations between the former close allies deteriorated sharply this week with bellicose comments from Turkish prime minister Tayyip Erdogan threatening that Turkish warships will escort future aid flotillas to Gaza.
Turkey also vowed to boost naval patrols in the eastern Mediterranean after Israel refused to apologise for the deaths of nine Turks in a commando raid last year on the MV Mavi Marmaraas it tried to breach Israel's maritime blockade on Gaza.
Israel's top-selling newspaper Yediot Aharonotreported that Israel's hardline foreign minister has decided to go on the offensive, believing that Turkey is not really interested in an Israeli apology as it seeks to boost its standing in the Muslim world.
“We’ll exact a price from Erdogan that will prove to him that messing with Israel doesn’t pay off,” Mr Lieberman was quoted as saying. “Turkey better treat us with respect and common decency.”
The measures proposed by Mr Lieberman include meetings with representatives of the militant PKK Kurdish group, which has recently stepped up its attacks on the Turkish military.
He also wants to promote a diplomatic campaign where Israeli missions worldwide will report illegal Turkish moves against minorities.
In another move that is bound to anger Ankara, Israel will step up co-operation with the Armenian lobby in the US pressing for worldwide recognition that Turkey was responsible for perpetrating genocide against the Armenian people during the years 1915-17.
The office of prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that a number of options are being considered, but stressed that no final decision has been taken on measures against Turkey.
“Our policy is and will remain to prevent the deterioration of relations with Turkey and to ease the tensions between the two countries,” a statement read.
Deputy prime minister Dan Meridor said Israel was not interested in a war of words.