BBC News Online: Despatches

Turkey urged to drop Israel links

Yitzhak Mordechai is the first Israeli Defence Minister to pay a visit to Turkey. He'll meet senior military and political leaders to discuss a growing relationship which has upset many countries in the Middle East.

Israel and Turkey already have several joint defence industry projects including one worth more than $600m, to upgrade F4 jets in the Turkish airforce. They also exchange intelligence information and hold regular joint strategy meetings.

The Israeli delegation hopes to sell more equipment to Turkey including tanks and missiles and it's likely to have a receptive audience. The military extablishment in Ankara has been growing increasingly frustrated with American reluctance to sell sophisticated equipment to Turkey and Israel provides an attractive alternative.

Both countries have emphasized that their cooperation is not meant to be a threat to any other country in the region but Syria, and Iran in particular, regard Turkey's actions as a betrayal of their Muslim brethern. They've been especially angered by plans for Turkey, Israel and the United States to hold joint military exercises in the Mediterranean Sea.

The exercises have already been postponed twice but Turkish defence officials say they are now expected to take place next month.

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