Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan totally suspends defense industry ties with Israel Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that Turkey was “totally suspending” defense industry ties with Israel, after downgrading diplomatic relations with the Jewish state. “Trade ties, military ties, regarding defense industry ties, we are completely suspending them. This process will be followed by different measures,” Erdogan told reporter in Ankara.
He said that Turkey would implement further sanctions against Israel and said that “our ships will be seen more frequently in those waters,” referring to the Eastern Mediterranean.
Erdogan also told reporters that he may visit Gaza and would decide whether to do so after talks with Egypt. Erdogan is planning to visit Cairo later this month.
On Friday, Turkey expelled the Israeli ambassador in Ankara, suspended military deals and vowed a greater naval presence in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
Erdogan said the Israeli diplomats who have been ordered out of Turkey must leave by Wednesday.
The prime minister also hinted at a possible visit to Gaza, though adding that no final decision had been made yet.
\"We are talking with the Egyptians on this matter ... A trip to Gaza is not finalised yet,\" Erdogan, who is due to visit Egypt next week, said on Tuesday.
Israel has expressed regret for the loss of lives in the 2010 flotilla raid but refused to issue an apology for what they say was their soldiers\' act of \"self-defence\".