Turkish officials appear determined on escalating the political row, now moving to the economic sphere, threatening to take its case to an international business court, seeking compensatory payments from Israel to the tune of millions of dollars.

The matter pertains to an order for ten drones, pilotless aircraft, which were ordered from Israel but are delayed. Ironically, Israeli officials explain the delay is due to the tardiness of a Turkish supplier, but Turkish officials appear more interested in pushing the envelope vis-à-vis the escalating breakdown in diplomatic relations.

Turkey is also taking advantage of the delivery delay to extricate Ankara from the situation resulting from its refusal to permit the IAF to take part in multinational military exercises, an announcement that resulted in US and NATO pullout and a cancelation of the exercises. Turkish military officials now report the IAF was excluded because of Israel’s failure to deliver the drone aircraft, not because of Operation Cast Lead as is believed to be the case.

Turkish officials appear confident, that an international arbitrator would award a $3-4 million compensatory payment for the late delivery.

A deal was closed between Israel and Turkey in 2005 by which Israel Aerospace Industries would manufacture four of the drones for Turkey known as ‘Heron’. Israel has failed to meet scheduled delivery deadlines.

In another but somewhat related matter, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday announced his country “will not take orders from anyone” regarding criticism of Ankara’s decision to ban Israel from the multinational military exercise.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)