In 2005 Turkey awarded a contract worth approximately $190 million dollar to Elbit Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) for ten Hernon unmanned utility vehicles, or drones. Then relations between Israel and Turkey soured. The deal was almost off when Israel commenced Operation Cast Lead in late 2008, a three-week offensive in Gaza.
Turkish officials placed the contract on hold, but only momentarily. Things settled down and Turkey and IAI were again progressing smoothly when, yet again, a political hiccup. On Monday, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon had Turkish ambassador Ahmet Oguz Celikkol sit in a chair lower than his own and did not display the Turkish flag. The deal is still on the table and IAI is to begin delivery in March.
See Haaretz for the full story.
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