Despite Foreign Ministry denial, CHP insists Turkey’s Kürecik serving Israel

The main opposition party of Turkey has strongly dismissed an explanation from the Foreign Ministry and insisted the Kürecik radar base in the eastern province of Malatya has actually “become an element of Israel’s air defense system.”

Republican People’s Party (CHP) Deputy Chair Faruk Loğoğlu also accused the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) of “hypocrisy,” because of its inconsistent policies regarding the Israeli-Palestinian dispute.

There are serious doubts that the Kürecik radar has not been providing intelligence to Israel, main opposition Loğoğlu said, arguing an earlier statement by the Foreign Ministry on the issue has not reflected the truth.

“The first of the developments that deepened these doubts is the use of the Kürecik radar in a joint U.S.-Israel exercise, which was carried out Feb. 10, 2012. During the exercise, harmonious operation of the Kürecik radar system and this system’s correspondent in Israel was tested. In this exercise, the Kürecik radar was used within the knowledge of and upon approval of the AKP government,” Loğoğlu said in a written statement released yesterday, only hours after the Foreign Ministry said the Kürecik radar base in the eastern province of Malatya is absolutely not providing data to Israel.

“The second, the integration of the U.S. radar system in Kürecik into NATO systems will take place in 2014,” he said. “In other words, Kürecik radar is now operating within U.S. command control systems,” he added.

“Additionally, on the contrary to the AKP government’s claims, until it is integrated into the NATO system, the Kürecik radar will be operated under the...