Analysis: Turkey's unprecedented act of betrayal against Israel

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In April 2012, Iran announced that it had uncovered a spy ring numbering 15 operatives working at the behest of Israel. Iranian authorities fingered the operatives as being responsible for the killings of nuclear scientists in recent years. Tehran had long suspected the Mossad as the mastermind of these operations. In announcing the arrests, Iran touted the apprehension of “Zionist spies” and the revelations regarding “Zionist” intelligence activity in a neighboring country.

The announcement, which didn’t garner much attention at the time, takes on added importance Thursday just hours after The Washington Post reported that Turkish intelligence revealed the identities of 10 Iranian spies working for Israel. According to the report, Iranian agents would meet with their Mossad handlers on Turkish soil.

This information was revealed by the newspaper’s senior foreign affairs analyst, David Ignatius, a journalist who is known to maintain extensive contacts with both the American and Israeli intelligence communities. If the report is accurate – and it is difficult to doubt the credibility of Ignatius’ sources – then we are talking about a very egregious – even unprecedented – act. In fact, this is the basest act of betrayal imaginable.

For over 50 years, Israel and Turkey were strategic allies. At the heart of this relationship were the extremely close ties between the Mossad and Military Intelligence on one hand, and the Turkish MIT and its military intelligence apparatus on the other hand. These ties were first established in 1958, and they were an integral part of the “Trident” partnership that also included Iran’s intelligence services during the reign of the Shah. It was only recently that Israeli intelligence chiefs permitted archived, previously classified material about the nature of this special relationship to be released for public consumption.

http://www.jpost.com/Diplomacy-and-Politics/Turkeys-unprecedented-act-of-betrayal-against-Israel-329014

[Jefferson23]

1. That's a pretty intense move, but that was in 2012, correct?

Seems they are repairing their relationship, which in the end, will not benefit
the Palestinians.

K&R

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2. Yes, I remember, I wondered what was up when it happened. Haven't seen much.

So now we know why all the happy talk went away since then. I've been attributing it to the Marmara incident, and politics, but now I think it's this that finished the break.

I doubt Erdogan much cares one way or another about the Palestinians, perhaps as much as Ted Cruz cares about our taxpayers. But he does seem like the sort of guy with a temper, Erdogan, I think he got tired of being insulted.

This changes things. It's very "unfriendly". I'll have to think about it.

Things are so disorganized now in the Middle East, and with a growing power vacuum, that now I'm reluctant to even try to guess what's next. A lot of other interested parties too.

[Jefferson23]

3. Yea, Erdogen from accounts does have a temper and have read it described as such

b/c he is not a disciplined man..he gets angry, his roots as a poor kid in Istanbul..street fighting,
have a way of interfering with his judgment sometimes. But who knows.

As far as the repairing of relations, seems to be going in the effort to restore relations completely
and mostly due to Syria..they have common ground there. As much as any country cares about the Palestinians
..I would agree with what you've said but only in part. Erdogan was placing a focus on the Palestinians and vocal about
it and the temperature if you will, of that concern, was a reflection of the public's opinion.

With disaster in Syria and then Egypt with Sisi, who knows. Palestinians don't have any
friends of influence to rely on to begin with and losing a voice ( Turkey ) does not help which they need.

[bemildred]

4. OK.

I think, on the other hand, they almost have to get together, over Syria among other things, so that's what we're seeing.

Netanyahu is not so cocky these days either.

Right now, times are tough for Palestinians, I agree. There are bigger issues so they get no attention. Longer term, the plates are shifting, and that will create opportunities.

[Jefferson23]

5. I hope so. n/t

[shaayecanaan]

6. puts a different spin on the apology...

I think this and perhaps other incidents led netanyahu to realise that Israel needs turkey more than turkey needs Israel.

Funnily enough, I can anticipate the hasbarado response to this. Probably someone will post about turkey buying drones or left handed can openers from Israel.

[shira]

7. It means Erdogan is an idiot, burning bridges w/ the hated Jews & f-cking Turkey over....

....in the process WRT Iran, a country that is no friend to Turkey, with nuclear ambitions that threaten Turkey as much as any other nation in the region.

Israel's neighboring oil rich Arab regimes have been doing the same for decades, making Israel out to be the imaginary bogeyman, not working with them, failing to progress forward, and where has that gotten them? Nowhere. They've gone backwards while the rest of the world has moved ahead. Turkey is choosing the same path.

Erdogan is an idiot and you're applauding his idiocy, but that's to be expected...

[shaayecanaan]

8. He's a godless Communist and a child molester

and hes starting a shariah state. And he sucks dogs balls.

He also has a fat arse. This is a picture of his arse (_|_). See how fat it is.

If only he built bridges with the Jews, his arse would not be fat, he would not suck dogs balls and his wife would have huge breasts. And everyone in Turkey would be driving BMW M3s.

[Jefferson23]

9. I agree, and as you can see from post # 7, you're already getting a feel for Erdogan from

his detractors. At least it keeps the thread up....one perk.