June 30, 2010
Israeli Minister of Trade, Industry and Labor Benjamin Ben-Eliezer and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu met in Zurich on June 30, Ynet reported, adding that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apparently approved the meeting. The office of Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Lieberman was unaware of the meeting, adding that it violated trust with the prime minister. A reporter with Israel’s Channel 2 uncovered the meeting during a telephone conversation with Ben-Eliezer, The Jerusalem Post reported, claiming that Ben-Eliezer is Israel’s secret mediator with Turkey.
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Turkey: FM Holds Clandestine Meeting With Israeli Minister
July 1, 2010
Israeli Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu met in Switzerland on June 30 for two hours without the permission of Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Haaretz reported July 1, citing Hurriyet. The meeting was reportedly a result of pressure from the Obama administration, according to Jerusalem sources. Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak reportedly opposed the meeting and expressed concerns to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but he did not veto the meeting. Davutoglu traveled to Switzerland by private plane and the conference room was reserved under an assumed name, Hurriyet reported. Davutoglu reportedly called for an apology for the Israeli attack on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.
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