ANKARA: Israel sells spy camera to Turkey despite risk

Israel sells spy camera to Turkey despite risk

22 May 2011, Sunday / TODAYSZAMAN.COM,

Israel’s defense establishment has approved the sale of a
sophisticated intelligence system to Turkey even though the Knesset
has decided to debate a resolution recognizing the Armenian genocide,
the Media Line, a news portal on Middle East issues, has claimed.

The news portal said Israel’s Ministry of Defense earlier last week
approved the sale of a sensitive spy camera to Turkey, despite fears
that the technology could find its way to hostile, third party
elements.

According to the report, the system is the Long-Range Oblique
Photography pod (LOROP), built by Israel’s top defense companies. It
is considered the pinnacle in Israeli technology, one of the reasons
why the Israeli Ministry of Defense was hesitant to see it in foreign
hands.

`All Israeli weapons sales must be approved by the Defense Export
Department, or Sibat, a branch within the Ministry of Defense.
According to Israeldefense, an Israeli website with close ties to the
defense establishment, Sibat approved the transfer of the system in
order improve the strained ties with Turkey,’ the report said.

The once close Turkish-Israel alliance has greatly deteriorated,
particularly since last May’s assault by Israeli commandos on a
Turkish ship participating in a flotilla trying to break Israel’s
blockade of the Gaza Strip. Eight Turks and one American of Turkish
descent were killed in the raid.

Turkey has recently asked Israel to provide it with the identities of
soldiers involved so it can prosecute them. Israel has warned that it
will meet flotillas planned for next month with an iron fist.