Renewing Israeli Defence Sales to Turkey?
Israel Aerospace Industries "Heron" UAV, supplied to Turkey in happier days ----- There is reportedly a stand-off between Israel’s Defence Minister, Ehud Barak, and Foreign Minister, Avigdor Leiberman. The topic is whether Israel should renew defence sales to Turkey . Ehud Barak is reportedly arguing in favour, as it is part of his mandate to promote Israel ’s defence industries; whereas Avigdor Leiberman is objecting, due to the continuing “strained” relations between Turkey and Israel . Israel ’s defence industries are a commercial powerhouse, accounting for over $5 Billion in annual export sales. Israel ranks fourth in the world in the defence sector export business. The defence sector directly employs over 20,000 Israelis. Turkey was a booming market for Israel ’s defence sector – with key contracts going to Israeli companies to supply Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs), Tank Upgrades and Airframe Upgrades of Turkey’s aging F4 Phantom Jets. This business was estimat...