'Turkey violating international law'

Israeli state officials insist Ankara's announcement of suspension of trade ties with Israel purely declarative, bears no economic significance. Israel can sue Turkey for violation of international law, legal expert claims

Attila Somfalvi

Israeli state officials stressed Tuesday that the recent Turkish announcement of suspension of defense trade with Israel has more declarative significance than actual economic implications. The two governments have not traded with each other for some time and defense trade has also ceased long ago, state officials said.

"Erdogan may have cashed in on recent Israeli press talk about the possibility of damage to trade ties," a state official said. "He's also stressed out due to the fact that Israel refuses to get dragged into a verbal conflict with him." Since the publication of the Palmer Report, Jerusalem has rarely issued official responses to the crisis, with the exception of expressing hope that normal relations be restored.

The officials stressed that Turkey also stands to come out on the losing end if trade is indeed halted. "It appears Erdogan is choosing to act as if he's lost all his senses," the state official said. Earlier on Tuesday, Turkey clarified that the suspension of trade ties only applies to defense goods and not trade in general.

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