Is Israel aiding the PKK?

[Armenum]

Could Israel really be aiding the PKK against Turkey? When I initially read this I was very surprised since I wouldn't think Israel would actually consent to giving weapons to a group that is fighting Turkey, as it becomes like a proxy war if true. I really don't know how their relations can be repaired if such a thing is true. Though I haven't seen much press coverage on this. I wonder where US lies on this given it regards PKK as terrorist organisation.

Israeli unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are being used in southern Turkey to assist the Kurdistan Worker’s Party, a Turkish newspaper reported Tuesday.

The party, known by its acronym PKK, has a long history of violence in pursuit of Kurdish- self rule and is considered a terrorist organization by the United States and European Union.

Today’s Zaman newspaper reported that two months ago, Turkish intelligence had detected two Israeli Heron UAVs operating in the southern Turkish provinces of Hatay and Adana. The UAVs were reportedly collecting data on Turkish military units, then using the intelligence to set up PKK bases in northern Syria for confronting Turkish troops.

The report also claims that Kenan Yıldızbakan – a PKK member who led an assault against a Turkish naval base in Hatay in 2010 – has visited Israel on numerous occasions, further raising suspicions of his organization’s ties to the Jewish state.

Today’s Zaman is the English version of the Turkish paper Zaman, a mass-circulation daily linked to the Gulenist movement – an influential Islamist organization led by a Turkish religious scholar living in exile in the United States. Its coverage is broadly favorable to the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP.

http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=254076

[Inconsistent]

I think the last sentence in the quote is by far the most relevant.

[Armenum]

I think the last sentence in the quote is by far the most relevant.

Today's Zaman is a rather popular Turkish media source.

[Phier]

The story reads like innuendo B.S.

[Armenum]

The story reads like innuendo B.S.

Well the original source is "Turkish intelligence reports", obviously I'm not saying definitely this is happening, as it also doesn't make sense from an Israeli point of view, but you never know, countries do stupid things from time to time.

[hellheaven1987]

Israel probably just aids Syrian Kurds, which explains why Turkey is so desperately wanting to support Free Syrian Army.

[PointOfViewGun]

I think the last sentence in the quote is by far the most relevant.

Not really because it's not exactly correct. It used to support AKP but at the moment they're in war with each other.

Israel probably just aids Syrian Kurds, which explains why Turkey is so desperately wanting to support Free Syrian Army.

PKK and Syrian Kurds are not exactly on the same side. Iranian PJAK makes more sense.


It would be much more sensible to post the original article instead of an article about an article:
Israeli Herons give intelligence to PKK, intelligence officers say

According to reports by Turkish intelligence agencies, Heron unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) operated by Israel that have been observed in Hatay and Adana provinces in recent months spied for the terrorist Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK).


Turkish intelligence agencies prepared a report after the detection of two Israeli Herons in Hatay and Adana roughly two months ago, claiming that the Herons are collecting intelligence on Turkish military units in order to aid PKK operations in those regions.


The report asserts that the PKK's training camps in northern Syria, near Turkey's Hatay border “where Turkish military border posts are relatively weak” were established in those locations based on intelligence collected by the UAVs.


The report also claims that Kenan Yıldızbakan, a PKK member who commanded an assault against a Turkish naval base in İskenderun in 2010, has made repeated trips into Israeli territory, reinforcing suspicions of a possible link between Israeli and the PKK.


A rocket attack by PKK terrorists on the naval base killed seven soldiers and wounded six others in the southern province of Hatay's İskenderun district in June 2010.


In a related development, phone conversations between Mehmet Veysi Dilekçi and Mesude Yasak recently intercepted during investigations into the KCK, included discussions relating to Israeli support for the PKK. Dilekçi and Yasak, who were arrested during a Turkish operation against the KCK in December in Siirt, mentioned a convoy of 400 trucks supplying aid to the PKK that was sent by an Israeli civil society organization -- which was identified as Hae Anshei Targum in the Star daily-- in 2010.


The Kurdish Communities Union (KCK) is a political umbrella organization that allegedly includes the PKK.

[Rome101]

Did popularity become interchangeable with reliability?

[Armenum]

Did popularity become interchangeable with reliability?

I think it has a decent reputation. It's not like DailyMail or a tabloid if that's what you're suggesting.

Today’s Zaman continues to build on its reputation as the country’s premier paper with an
exceptional columnists and dedicated staff who provides in-depth coverage of events. We also
have agreements with leading world newspapers like the Los Angeles Times, The Washington
Post, Project Syndicate and The Times of London to publish selected feature stories, articles
and news.

[spanish_emperor]

Did popularity become interchangeable with reliability?

I agree with you.

Btw, i would be interested in seeing how you classify credibility.

[Armenum]

Well the Turkish article refers to a report by Turkish intelligence agencies...

Turkish intelligence agencies prepared a report after the detection of two Israeli Herons in Hatay and Adana roughly two months ago, claiming that the Herons are collecting intelligence on Turkish military units in order to aid PKK operations in those regions.

The report asserts that the PKK's training camps in northern Syria, near Turkey's Hatay border “where Turkish military border posts are relatively weak” were established in those locations based on intelligence collected by the UAVs.

[.L.]

Israel's foreign minister threatened to aid the PKK, so it isn't too unbelievable.

[Armenum]

Israel's defense minister threatened to aid the PKK, so it isn't too unbelievable.

Wasn't it Lieberman that threatened to aid PKK?

[.L.]

Wasn't it Lieberman that threatened to aid PKK?

Oh yeah nevermind, I got confused. It's shameful nonetheless.

PS: I would have repped you for pointing that out, but I need to spread some around.

[sumskilz]

Maybe it was actually the drones Israel sold to Turkey that were spotted.

[Armenum]

Maybe it was actually the drones Israel sold to Turkey that were spotted.

Haha, it's possible, but would Turkish intelligence be so clueless not to know that?

[sumskilz]

Haha, it's possible, but would Turkish intelligence be so clueless not to know that?

Might be a nice tactic to lull the PKK into a false sense of security when they see one overhead, or some ridiculous miscommunication between various Turkish elements. I don’t know, either seems about as likely as Israel doing something so foolish. Something doesn’t seem right about this story anyway.

[Armenum]

I agree the story is suspicious yet interesting to know why it is what it is, I'll try to find to see how Israel has reacted to this publicly...

[Phier]

I agree the story is suspicious yet interesting to know why it is what it is, I'll try to find to see how Israel has reacted to this publicly...

If they were helping the PKK they would deny it.
If they were not helping the PKK they would deny it.

So yea, not too interested in their reaction.

[John ''True Grit'' Wayne]

Well after Turkey and Israel fell out and ruined their friendship over a flotilla the Israelis said they will support the terrorist group that kills Turks and the Turks made lots of threats against Israel.They both stuck out their chests and treid to look hard.
The irony is Israel crys about terrorists attacking them while supporting terrorists against Turkey.Hypocrates,,,,,


http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct...AlnF1QE5-nxy8w

Davutoglu said that the PKK has turned into a tool for anyone who wants to harm Turkey. "Every time someone wants to bother Turkey he uses the PKK," he said. "It is important that our Kurdish brothers pay attention to this."
According to a report in Yedioth Ahronoth, Lieberman assembled a team to discuss a possible retaliation against Turkey. According to the report, the team recommended to Lieberman that Israel should cooperate with the PKK and even consider arming it with weapons. Another suggestion was to offer assistance to the Armenians and file UN reports against Turkey for a violation of the rights of minorities in the country.