Cyprus-Forum.com

[bill cobbett]

This story appears as an opinion piece by David Ignatius in the Washington Post.

The story goes that at the height of the fall-out between Turkey and Israel, Turkey disclosed the identities of ten Iranians who were working with Mossad to Iran.

Here's the first two paras...

"...The Turkish-Israeli relationship became so poisonous early last year that the Turkish government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is said to have disclosed to Iranian intelligence the identities of up to 10 Iranians who had been meeting inside Turkey with their Mossad case officers.

Knowledgeable sources describe the Turkish action as a “significant” loss of intelligence and “an effort to slap the Israelis.” The incident, disclosed here for the first time, illustrates the bitter, multi-dimensional spy wars that lie behind the current negotiations between Iran and Western nations over a deal to limit the Iranian nuclear program. A Turkish Embassy spokesman had no comment..."

More recently, Turkey has denied the reports.

Here's the last para of the piece, a take on regional implications...

"... The Netanyahu-Erdogan quarrel, with its overlay of intelligence thrust and parry, is an example of the kaleidoscopic changes that may be ahead in the Middle East. The United States, Israel, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Egypt are all exploring new alliances and struggling to find a new equilibrium — overtly and covertly. ..."

[B25]

True or not, it is the kind of thing one can come to expect of Turkey. She just cannot be trusted to anything.

Whether signed, said or otherwise, Turkey will always betray you.

And we are talking a possible solution with this terrorist animal?? May god have mercy on us!

[Paphitis]

This is absolute disgraceful behaviour from Turkey.

We must bear in mind that Turkey's actions puts at risk the lives of the 10 Iranian agents and their families. The individuals will never be able to enter Iran ever again.

This is a massive security breach by Turkey!

Just goes to show that Turkey's loyalties lie with Iran and as such their position within NATO could also be a breach of security. Perhaps Turkey should be kicked out and replaced with Cyprus.

[Cap]

As a so called *cough* *cough* 'guarantor' of Cyprus, should never be trusted.
Along with the other 2 manipulating bottom feeder 'guarantors'

Fu** them.
As the saying goes, if you want something done properly, you have to do it yourself.
A united Cyprus is a mother of force you don't wan't to fu** with.
We call the shots, we decide who has bases and who doesn't.
What you gonna do? Send the CIA to replace an irreplaceable government through proxy wars? Divide and conquer a resolute and unwavering populace?
Invade sovereign EU territory?
Nuke us?
What the fu** you gonna do?

[Demonax]

Here is a report by the Jerusalem Post:

Analysis: Turkey’s unprecedented act of betrayal against Israel

In April 2012, Iran announced that it had uncovered a spy ring of 15 operatives working at the behest of Israel.

Iranian authorities identified the operatives as those responsible for the killings of nuclear scientists in recent years. Tehran had long suspected the Mossad as the mastermind of these operations.

In announcing the arrests, Iran touted the apprehension of “Zionist spies” and the revelations regarding “Zionist” intelligence activity in a neighboring country.

The announcement, which didn’t garner much attention at the time, took on added importance Thursday, when The Washington Post reported that Turkish intelligence had leaked the identities of 10 Iranian spies working for Israel, who would meet with their Mossad handlers on Turkish soil.

This information was revealed by the newspaper’s senior foreign affairs analyst, David Ignatius, a journalist known to maintain extensive contacts with both the American and the Israeli intelligence communities.

If the report is accurate – and it is difficult to doubt the credibility of Ignatius’s sources – then we are talking about an egregious, even unprecedented, act. In fact, this is the basest act of betrayal imaginable.

Full article: http://www.jpost.com/Diplomacy-and-Poli ... ael-329014

[GreekIslandGirl]

Erm, weren't there Iranians spying along with Mossad? Hasn't Turkey betrayed both Israelis and Iranians?

[Demonax]

Stop Intelligence Sharing with Turkey

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Turkish intelligence chief Hakan Fidan purposely blew an Iranian spy ring to spite Israel. The fact that Turkey would betray to Iran citizens who were working to shed light on a nuclear program that Iranian diplomats claims is transparent and peaceful is outrageous. Most of these Iranians likely died horrendous deaths...

The implications of Turkey’s actions go far beyond simply Iran’s nuclear program, however. This part of Ignatius’ column is especially scandalous, for it shows the lack of seriousness with which President Obama treats national security:

The Turkish intelligence chief, Hakan Fidan, is also suspect in Israel because of what are seen as friendly links with Tehran; several years ago, Israeli intelligence officers are said to have described him facetiously to CIA officials as “the MOIS station chief in Ankara,” a reference to Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security. The United States continued to deal with Fidan on sensitive matters, however. Though U.S. officials regarded exposure of the Israeli network as an unfortunate intelligence loss, they didn’t protest directly to Turkish officials.

Today, Turkey has become more an enemy than an ally.

http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/ ... an-israel/

[bill cobbett]

The already wide rift between Israel and Turkey is growing as an "intelligence source" in Ankara is saying Israel may be behind the Washington Post story...

Reported in Hurriyet...

“...We see this media campaign as an attack and there might be an Israeli effort behind it,” a Turkish intelligence source said on the phone yesterday. “Especially after the Washington Post story on Oct. 17 and the follow-ups with Jerusalem bylines...”

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey ... sCatID=409

[Demonax]

Story was anticipated a few days ago in the Wall Street Journal in a piece on Turkish spy chief Hakan Fidan:

Mr. Fidan's rise at Mr. Erdogan's side has been met with some concern in Washington and Israel because of his role in shaping Iran policy. One senior Israeli official says it became clear to Israel that Mr. Fidan was "not an enemy of Iran." And mistrust already marked relations between the U.S. and Turkish intelligence agencies. The CIA spies on Turkey and the MIT runs an aggressive counterintelligence campaign against the CIA, say current and former U.S. officials.

The tension was aggravated in 2010 when the CIA began to suspect the MIT under Mr. Fidan of passing intelligence to Iran.

At the time, Mr. Erdogan was trying to improve ties with Tehran, a central plank of Ankara's "zero problems with neighbors" policy. U.S. officials believe the MIT under Mr. Fidan passed several pieces of intelligence to Iran, including classified U.S. assessments about the Iranian government, say current and former senior U.S. and Middle Eastern officials.

U.S. officials say they don't know why Mr. Fidan allegedly shared the intelligence, but suspect his goal was relationship-building.

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB1 ... 3585228330

[bill cobbett]

Yes and it's a story that's dominating the news in Israel.

From http://world.time.com/2013/10/18/turkis ... z2i7vNortU

"... Israeli newspapers were dominated Friday morning by a Washington Post report that Turkey betrayed Israeli spies to Iran. “Turkey Blows Israel’s Cover for Iranian Spying Ring, “ was the headline on columnist David Ignatius’ Thursday piece, quoting “knowledgeable sources” who described how the Turkish government disclosed to Iran the identities of 10 Iranians who had been meeting in Turkey with Israeli intelligence case officers. The Hebrew daily Yedioth Ahronoth noted a “thunderous silence” from the Israeli government in its article, headlined “The Turkish Betrayal” and including numerous quotes from unidentified officials reinforcing the premise of the story. The Post column followed an Oct. 10 Wall Street Journal profile of Turkey’s intelligence chief, Hakan Fidan, that included a broader charge that he had passed Israeli secrets to Iran... "