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Israel mulling over retaliation with Cyprus voyage
The group will reportedly call for an end to the “Turkish occupation of half of the island.”
The planned voyage is in open retaliation of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, which was attacked by Israeli naval commandos last week in international waters. At least nine peace activists on the flotilla, all Turks, were killed by live fire.
According to The Jerusalem Post, an unnamed wealthy Israeli donor is subsidizing the Israeli group’s voyage to Cyprus.
Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Hüseyin Özgürgün responded harshly to the Israeli group’s plans on Sunday, saying the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) would never welcome such an initiative. “Last week Greek Cypriots halted the Freedom Flotilla and made it waste days on its trip to Gaza. We, on the other hand, helped the flotilla continue on its route. Israelis are now reacting against us and siding with Greek Cypriots. The point they are missing is Turkey’s message on the issue. Both the transportation minister and the interior minister of Turkey called us on the phone and requested that we help the aid flotilla. The KKTC is always engaged in consultation with Ankara,” he told a Turkish daily.
The Akşam daily also quoted the KKTC foreign minister as saying that his country will “give the necessary response to the Israeli flotilla.” “We will immediately give them the necessary response. Let no one doubt this. We will not allow Israeli actions to go unanswered. For example, there are Israelis who have major investments in the KKTC. We can jointly react to Israel,” Özgürgün stated.
It was not immediately certain whether the Israeli flotilla plans to enter KKTC waters.
According to Özgürgün, the flotilla would not dare enter his country’s waters. “They would not dare to attempt this. The KKTC naval forces are stronger than they assume. We are the strongest in the region thanks to the Turkish Armed Forces [TSK]. I do not think Israel would try such madness. If they do, they will receive an immediate response,” he added.
Özgürgün also responded to Israeli claims that Turkey is an occupying power in Cyprus. He said Israel would be the last country on earth to accuse another country of occupation.
“I find such Israeli claims funny. Israel itself is an occupying power,” he said, adding that “if The Jerusalem Post article reflects the truth and if the Israeli flotilla sets sail, the tension between Turkey and Israel will grow even fiercer.”
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