A Blog by the Editor of The Middle East Journal

Putting Middle Eastern Events in Cultural and Historical Context

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Netanyahu Had Ben-Eliezer Meet Turks Behind Lieberman's Back?

There is friction in the Israeli coalition over reports that Prime Minister Netanyahu had Trade and Labor Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer met with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Zurich without informing Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman. Nosw Liberman, who has had difficult relations with Netanyahu for some time (and with Turkey as well, of course) is blasting Netanyahu.

The Turkish strategic relationship, which used to be a keystone of Israeli policy, is pretty much a thing of the past, and most Israelis have blamed Turkish PM Erdogan, not themselves. But it looks as if Netanyahu, via Labor Party veteran "Fuad" Ben-Eliezer, is trying to keep a channel open.

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