Israeli Defense Minister Binyamin Ben Eliezer is to start a two-day official visit to Turkey on Monday to boost bilateral security ties, reported the Kuwaiti official news agency, KUNA, citing Israeli reports.
Israeli sources said Sunday that the minister would meet Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and the minister of national defense, Sabahattin Cakmakoglu, to boosting their "strong bilateral relations.”
Israeli press sources stated that the main aim of Ben Eliezer's visit was to urge Turkish officials to purchase more Israeli ammunition, after Ankara cancelled several contracts to buy ammunition manufactured by Israel due to the severe economic crisis Turkey is suffering.
The contracts are worth several million US dollars, according to the agency. Their cancellation resulted in huge losses in the Israeli military industries, according to Israeli sources.
Radio Israel said that the minister would also discuss with Turkish officials the issue of supplying Iran with weapons.
According to the Kuwaiti agency, Israel has been seeking during the past few years to turn Turkey against Iran, as it considers Iran its archenemy for supporting the Palestinian Intifada and the Lebanese resistance movement – Albawaba.com
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