Erdogan boasts about Turkish APC, but mum it was jointly manufactured with Israel

 

Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, had to figuratively wipe egg of his face this weekend.

The Hurricane, manufactured jointly with an Israeli firm, Hatehof - Photo: Hatehof, LTDThe Hurricane, manufactured jointly with an Israeli firm, Hatehof – Photo: Hatehof, LTD

According to a report in the Turkish daily newspaper Zaman, the firebrand leader paid a visit to the pavilion hosting the International Defense Industry Fair in Istanbul, during which he boasted of his nation’s growing influence in the global arms trade.

During a stop at one particular exhibit hosted by the Turkish weapons manufacturer BMC, Erdoğan pulled the covers off of an armored 4X4 Humvee, bragging about how Turkey’s new “global brand.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan pays a visit to Lebanon – Photo: REUTERS

The only problem was that Erdogan had unveiled the Hurricane, a vehicle that was manufactured jointly with an Israeli firm, Hatehof (the company has since been renamed Carmor, while the vehicle itself was rechristened as “Carmine” during the exhibit).

Weighing between nine and 14 tons, the Hurricane seats up to seven people who use it to engage in combat and reconnaissance missions.

Israel’s once thriving strategic relationship with Turkey has disintegrated following fierce policy disagreements on the Palestine question, specifically as it relates to Gaza.

Erdoğan has accused Israel of pursuing a policy of “genocide” against the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, while the Turkish leader has been denounced as “an anti-Semitic bully” by former foreign minister Avigdor Liberman.

 

View original The Jerusalem Post publication at: http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Erdogan-brags-about-Turkish-APC-even-though-it-was-jointly-made-with-Israel-403901