Close inspections, questioning, and long delays are what awaited dozens of Israelis who arrived at Istanbul Ataturk Airport this morning on a Turkish Airways flight from Ben Gurion Airport. Yet another incident that underscores the deterioration in Israeli-Turkish relations.
The passengers, mostly businesspeople making working visits to Turkey, reported a humiliating experience. "One of the managers of my group called me from there and told me that he was being held up at the airport, and that his passport had been sent to the police for inspection. He was released an hour later, and allowed to go," NCA Group chairman Yair Geller told "Globes". The company manufactures automotive components in Turkey. "The problem is that, this morning, the Turks decided to do to Israelis what Israel has been constantly doing to every Turk who arrives in Israel. Sometimes, when I invite Turkish guests to Israel, I am ashamed: security checks and interrogations, delays, and questions to the Israel Security Agency that can take three hours, as if the visitors are detainees. We constantly humiliate them, and they are now paying us back."
Geller is scheduled to visit NCA's factory in Istanbul tomorrow. He says that this morning's incident does not deter him. "I don’t know where these relations are going; I haven’t a clue. I strongly hope that things will calm down and get back to normal, because the current situation is becoming hallucinatory," he says. "I employ 120 people in Istanbul, many of them local engineers. I have plans to expand my factory there, double its production and its workforce, but at this stage I have no idea what the day will bring. I strongly hope that the political tensions and current situation won't disrupt my plans."
Some of the Israelis detained at Istanbul Airport said that while they received a humiliating, disrespectful, and arrogant reception, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor attaché Joseph Avraham told "Globes", "I was delayed for 15 minutes, but other were delayed for much longer. I did not hear anyone complain about the attitude."
Avraham said that, as part of job, he was alert to claims by Turkish businesspeople about the tough attitude they receive in Israel. He said, "I help every Turkish businessperson who wants to come to Israel. In general, business and economic ties between Israel and Turkey are good. I believe that bilateral trade will reach $4 billion this year. Both countries have things to offer the other."
Avraham took up his post three weeks ago. "I know that I took up this post at a difficult and tense time, but this is a great challenge. I simply believe in the potential of good relations between the two countries."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on September 5, 2011
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