While the media insists there is an underlying message, IDF officials’ state that a decision to hold military exercises in Cyprus airspace is not intended to send any message to Turkey, Israel’s former staunch ally and partner in such military exercises in previous years. The announcement is especially poignant to Turkey, an arch enemy of Cyprus.
Israeli officials are signaling that while Cypriot airspace is being used, Cyprus is not taking part in the exercise, a message in line with the statement released by Nicosia Defense Ministry’s spokesperson Andreas Tyrimos denying participation in the military exercise.
Turkey severed diplomatic and military ties with Israel pending an apology from the latter over the Mavi Marmara incident in which Israeli naval commandos boarded the terrorist vessel, resulting in the deaths of Turkish nationals.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One Response
The message doesn’t seem “hidden” at all.
However given historic Greek anti-Semitism, an alliance with either Greece or Cyprus seems dubious. This is more of a “tweaking nose” sort of thing.