Turkish Foreign Minister Meet Israel's Ben-Eliezer, Sparks Massive Protests

The meeting between Industry, Trade and Labor Benjamin Ben-Eliezer and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu this week stirred up a storm not only in Israel.

Photo: Turkish Foreign Minister Meet Israel's Ben-Eliezer, Sparks Massive Protests

Although there was no official comment and the Turkish leadership is maintaining a polite silence, the Turkish opposition is going to town.

A member of an opposition party told Haaretz that "Now [Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip] Erdogan's real face is revealed. After his loud comments about Israel he is willing to hold secret talks with the country," Ha'aretz reports.

According to Bloomberg, Defense Minister Ehud Barak was aware of the plans for the meeting, which was aimed at repairing ties ruptured when Israel’s military killed nine Turkish activists aboard an aid ship bound for the Gaza strip, Hurriyet said.

Special care was taken by Barak and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office to ensure Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman was kept unaware of the process, it said.