Israel Downplays Turkey's Decision to Cancel Military Drill
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Israel's defense minister is downplaying Turkey's decision to cancel an international military exercise last week that was to include the Jewish state.
Ehud Barak said Wednesday the cancellation does not signal a long-term deterioration in Israeli-Turkish ties.
He called the decision part of "the ups and downs" of a relationship and stressed that the two countries' ties are "long-standing, important and strategic in nature."
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The air drills in Turkey were to start Oct. 10 and include the United States, NATO and Israel.
Muslim Turkey's traditionally close ties with Israel have cooled since the Israel-Hamas Gaza war in January.