ISRAEL HAYOM
by Shlomo Cesana, Daniel Siryoti, Eli Leon and Israel Hayom Staff
October 22, 2014

Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon tells U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel: Turkey is playing a cynical game • Ya’alon thanks Hagel for U.S. support, says disagreements should not cloud the “deep friendship” between Israel and the U.S.

In a meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel at the Pentagon on Tuesday, Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon criticized Turkey for the support it provides to Hamas. “Turkey is playing a cynical game,” Ya’alon told Hagel. “Hamas is supported by Turkey and Qatar. Hamas has two terror headquarters — in Gaza and in Istanbul.

“Hamas moved its terror headquarters from Damascus to Istanbul, in Turkey, a NATO member, where it is represented by Saleh al-Arouri, who orchestrates terrorist attacks against Israel from there and attempted to instigate a coup against [Palestinian Authority President] Mahmoud Abbas in Judea and Samaria,” Ya’alon said.

Ya’alon and Hagel discussed a range of topics on Tuesday, including Iran, the Islamic State group, Syria, Operation Protective Edge and Israel-U.S. defense ties. Ya’alon thanked Hagel for U.S. aid in the development of the Iron Dome anti-rocket system. “Even if there are disagreements between the U.S. and Israel, they should not be allowed to cloud the deep friendship and warm, intimate ties between the two countries,” Ya’alon said……

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