Barak asks for cabinet meeting on ties with Turkey

Defense minister says special meeting should be held to also discuss siege of Israel’s embassy in Cairo, PA UN statehood bid.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Barak at press conference 311 (photo credit: Ariel Harmony / Defense Ministry)
Barak at press conference 311
(photo credit: Ariel Harmony / Defense Ministry)
Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Sunday said that he wanted to hold a cabinet meeting in light of the worsening ties with Turkey, the siege of Israel’s embassy in Cairo, and the Palestinian Authority's impending UN statehood bid.
Barak highlighted the need to hold a wide-scale discussion and explained that all the bodies, such as the Foreign Ministry investigation department and the Mossad, had submitted appraisals.
RELATED:Erdogan threatens to send gunboats with next flotilla
"I believe that there are issues and conclusions in these appraisals that can positively influence our standing within a regional storm," the defense minister said.
Barak went on to say that "these events do not happen because of us, they happen as a result of forces that are out of control. But we can influence the way that we deal with them."
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman on Saturday said that Israel is not interested in a conflict with Turkey, but is also not ready "to wave a white flag" before Ankara.
Speaking in an interview with Channel 2, Lieberman said that Israel's actions have been and will continue to be guided by international law. The foreign minister added that the Palmer Commission report on the raid of the Mavi Marmara clearly stated that Israel's actions and the blockade of Gaza were legal.