Tel Aviv has asked Israelis not to visit Turkey after Ankara put Israel’s name back in The Red Book, a security document which lists the country’s "enemies."
"Our citizens have nothing to do in Turkey," Israeli Minister of Tourism Stas Misezhnikov said on Sunday, AFP reported.
Saturday reports said the Turkish National Security Council’s (MGK) revised the dossier, citing Israeli "actions and policies" as the root of regional volatilities.
Turkey had grown wary of Israel’s capability to knock the region off balance due to Tel Aviv’s attempts to vilify Iran’s nuclear program, the reports said.
This is while Iran says its nuclear program is solely aimed at peaceful purposes and the IAEA has in its 22 reports confirmed the non-diversion of nuclear material in the country.
Israel’s aggression on the Palestinians and the likelihood that it renews its deadly strikes against Lebanon had also concerned Ankara, the reports added.
Israel’s political footwork "could lead to an arms race in the Middle East," MGK also warned, while calling Tel Aviv "a central threat to Turkey."
The comments come amid Israel’s continued refusal to accede to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Tel Aviv continues to remain silent on its widely-reported possession of hundreds of nuclear warheads.
The modification of The Red Book also came after Israel delivered a record blow to bilateral relations in May by ordering a commando assault against the Freedom Flotilla — a Turkish-backed aid convoy.
The attackers swarmed the fleet in international waters as it was taking relief supplies to the Gaza Strip and killed nine Turkish activists.
Turkey has called on Israel to offer an apology, acknowledge an international, impartial inquiry and its conclusion and compensate the survivors. Ankara has threatened to sever ties with Tel Aviv, should Israel fail to meet either of the demands.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman have, however, insisted that Tel Aviv will not apologize for the attack.
Misezhnikov further said, "The Turks are causing themselves damage with all sorts of statements… The less we go there perhaps the better they’ll learn."
(Press TV)
