Former Likud Minister Gideon Saar told the media that the deal Israel is signing with Turkey to resume ties is nothing less than “national degradation”.

Saar, who is rumored to be launching his own party, told Mordechai Lavi of Kol Chai Radio on Monday morning 21 Sivan that he and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu are well-acquainted and worked side-by-side for years. He laments that the party he and many others voted for to head a nationalist government is agreeing pay reparations for the deaths of persons on board the Marvi Marmara. Saar emphasized he is not against the resumption of ties with Turkey but he is opposed to Israel making payment in any amount. He expresses his respect for PM Netanyahu, calling upon him not to move ahead with the one-sided agreement that does not reflect the interests of Israel.

Saar cites that Turkey is no less interested in resuming ties with Israel than Israel is, and therefore there was no need to enter into a one-sided document which he feels will come back to haunt Israel in the future.

Saar on Monday morning called on PM Netanyahu not to finalize the agreement, adding no sum can be paid since IDF commandos were attacked when they boarded the Marvi Marmara and those killed were killed as a result of the attack.

“There is no doubt this agreement gives Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan status and placed him as the leader of the region’s Sunny Muslims…Erdogan has a hashkafa close to the Muslim Brotherhood and therefore, we are buying goods that do not exist” added Saar.

Proponents of the deal explain the gas companies will profit from the deal while opponents feel this is yet another reason to oppose the deal – highlighting the need to concern ourselves with the national good and not to further benefit the gas companies involved in the natural gas deal.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)