Report says 11 arrested and several are on the run, publishes name and photo of alleged ringleader; incident marks 2nd Israeli spy ring Ankara claims to have disrupted

Turkish authorities have reportedly arrested 11 people suspected of spying on Iranian targets for Israel.

According to a report Tuesday by the Daily Sabah, which is widely seen as supportive of  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, authorities have identified 15 suspects, 11 of whom were arrested, who allegedly were part of a 23-member ring of operatives.

Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization and the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office suspect the 15 used a company that does business in Iran to gather intelligence for Israel’s Mossad spy agency, the newspaper reported.

Authorities are searching for two additional suspects.

The 18-month long investigation initially had focused on 23 individuals, according to Sabah, which said two of the suspects are Turkish citizens.

Unusually, the report included the name of a suspect alleged to be the ring’s leader: Selçuk Küçükkaya. A picture said to be of Küçükkaya shows a bearded, middle-aged man. Sabah said Mossad recruited Küçükkaya through an alleged member of the Gülen movement, an opposition network that Turkey has designated as a terrorist group.

Küçükkaya allegedly met with Mossad agents in Europe, who gave him five test assignments before recruiting him to establish a ring, follow people of interest and transmit to Mossad “the family members of the target persons, phone calls and signal information, bank accounts and assets,” the report said.

The report described the arrests as part of a broad counterintelligence effort directed not only at Israel, but also at thwarting Russian and Iranian operatives on Turkish soil.

Israel, which rarely comments publicly on Mossad actions, has not reacted to the allegations. The Sabah report did not specify the legal procedures pending in the case of the 11 suspects in custody.

Last year, Turkey also claimed to have broken up a Mossad ring and put 15 people on trial for espionage.

Turkish-Israeli relations, which had been robust both commercially and on security, soured after Erdogan came to power in the early 2000s and have since been through several up and downs. Ties have been recently been warming, with Jerusalem and Ankara agreeing to restore full diplomatic relations last year.

Erdoğan, head of the pro-Islam AKP party and widely seen in Turkey as a champion of the Palestinian cause, is running for reelection in the second round in Turkey’s presidential race on May 28. The runoff was scheduled after Erdoğan failed to obtain a 50% majority in the first round on May 14. He is running against opposition leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu.

Source: Times Of Israel

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Here are some views from Turkish citizens as the country voted on Sunday in an election runoff that may extend President Tayyip Erdogan’s rule into a third decade or see a transfer of power to his rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu.

In the capital Ankara:

“We all see what has happened over the past 20 years. We all see how our country changed. Nobody can deny this,” said housewife Songul Aslan, 45, after voting for Erdogan.

“I voted for our country to continue improving, getting better in every aspect. Economic hardships are there, but they are solvable issues. Turkey can overcome anything as long as we stand strong.”

Gulcan Demiroz, 32, said she hoped the vote would bring change and that otherwise her friends would go abroad, as she and her boyfriend were considering doing, for a better life.

“This country deserves better. We need a collective of minds, not a powerful, cold, distant man who rules single handedly,” said Demiroz, who works in the textile industry, after voting for Kilicdaroglu.

“We are voting today for our children, for our grandchildren, for them to see a better future,” said 66-year-old Kemal Ustunel.

“Inflation is skyrocketing and I can’t see anyone in the current government to stop the situation. (Kilicdaroglu) has prepared his teams of wise people. God willing, he will take the country out of this pit.”

“I think it will not be easy for Kilicdaroglu, he is an honest person but not all of his choices were correct,” said Burak, 23, who voted for him after backing 3rd placed candidate Sinan Ogan in the first round on May 14. “I hope he wins and this country can breathe a little after such a long period. Otherwise I’m afraid we’ll see hard times.”

In Turkey’s largest city, Istanbul:

“Turkey became an undemocratic country. I want to see a stronger Turkey, close to the European Union. I want to live in a country that respects rule of law and ECHR (European Court of Human Rights) rulings,” said digital market specialist Sukru Ucar, 35.

“Last time I was more hopeful, but I believe change will happen. If Erdogan wins, I will consider leaving Turkey.”

“I voted for Erdogan because he is a world leader. I voted for him because I appreciate the things he has done for Turkey. He changed the health system for good. He built roads,” said construction worker Omer Kosekol, 58.

“We love him (Erdogan) a lot. With God’s permission he will win. The country has many problems but if anyone can solve them, he can,” said Nuran, who voted at the polling station in Istanbul where Erdogan cast his vote.

“I expect hope to come out of this election,” said opposition supporter Ali Sakrak. “This will be a referendum for our youth and our nation. I hope our citizens will make the right decision.”

In Diyarbakir, largest city in the mainly Kurdish southeast:

“In the first round I voted for Kilicdaroglu for the presidency. But this time, (Erdogan’s) AK Party has the majority in parliament. If Kilicdaroglu is elected it will be difficult for it to function,” said Mahmut Cin, 29.

“I voted this time for Erdogan for stability, so that there will not be any problem between parliament and the president.”

“Enough is enough. Change is essential to overcome the economic crisis and problems that Turkey faces, so I voted for Kilicdaroglu again. We are hopeful and determined,” said housewife Canan Tince, 34.

“It is important for Turkey’s future that the president and parliament, where he has a majority, work together under the same roof. Hence I voted for Erdogan again for stability,” said retiree Faruk Gecgel, 54.

Source: Saltwire

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While the EU is promoting the ninth round of sanctions against Russia, the head of EU foreign policy recently expressed “concern” about the close relationship between Türkiye and Russia, and called on Türkiye to join the sanctions against Russia. This speech angered Türkiye’s President RecepTayyip Erdogan, who responded on the 15th that EU politicians have no right to interfere in Turkish Russian relations.

According to the West German Report of Germany on December 11, in a letter to the European Parliament, EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Borrell said that Türkiye’s refusal to join the EU’s sanctions against Russia is increasingly “worrying”. He also warned that the deepening of bilateral economic relations between Russia and Turkey is also a “worrying issue”.

Borrell urged Türkiye to comply with the sanctions imposed by the EU on Moscow and not provide Russia with a “temporary solution” to circumvent the sanctions.

But this statement made Türkiye’s President RecepTayyip Erdogan extremely dissatisfied. The Anadolu News Agency of Türkiye reported on the 15th that Erdogan lashed out at Borrell when answering questions from the media that day, stressing that he had no right to “dictate” the relationship between Turkey and Russia.

“I don’t think Borrelli can shout at me, and his level can only talk to the Foreign Minister, Mr. Chavushiolu.” Erdogan said, “In other words, Borrelli cannot define or adjust our relationship with Russia. He has neither the qualifications nor the ability to make such a decision. His remarks are offensive.”

Erdogan emphasized that the relationship between Türkiye and Russia cannot be evaluated only within the scope of sanctions. He criticized that even after Ankara also made many efforts to implement the Russia-Ukraine food agreement, Borrell told Türkiye: At present, 44% of Europe’s food comes from where? They come from the Black Sea. Who is the mediator? Turkiye. Do you thank us? No.”

Türkiye has always been neutral to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, unwilling to join the Western countries’ sanctions against Russia, and tries to “resolve the crisis” as a “mediator”. According to Reuters, Erdogan held phone conversations with leaders of Russia and Ukraine on the 11th to discuss issues such as further expanding the Black Sea food export agreement.

As Borrell tried to “woo” Türkiye, the EU approved the ninth round of sanctions against Russia at the winter summit that ended on the 15th. According to the process, the plan will be officially confirmed through a “written procedure” on the 16th local time and announced.

Euronews reported that the ninth round of sanctions may impose an asset freeze and travel ban on nearly 200 Russian individuals or entities, including government ministers, parliamentarians, local officials, political parties and armed forces. The EU also plans to impose more sanctions on Russia’s defense industry and banks, and impose stricter export controls on equipment such as chemicals, electronic products, and drone components.

Regarding the EU’s decision, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zaharova stated at a news conference on the 15th that no matter what new measures the EU takes, Russia will respond quickly, “Russia will respond to any unfriendly attacks.”.

Source : Baijahao

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Former CHP Chairman and MP Deniz Baykal passed away at the age of 84 on Feb. 11, CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu announced.

Baykal passed away at his home in the capital Ankara, according to his family and a ceremony will be held on Feb. 13 at the Turkish Parliament. He will be laid to rest in his hometown Antalya.

“It is with great sadness that I learned of the death of our Chairman, a lover of Türkiye and our Republican People’s Party, Antalya MP, our precious elder Deniz Baykal. He left us a life story full of struggles. Condolences to our nation,” Kılıçdaroğlu said on Twitter. 

Politicians from the ruling AKP also shared condolence messages for Baykal.

“We regret the death of Antalya Deputy and former Chairman of the Republican People’s Party Deniz Baykal, who is among the important names of our political history. I wish God’s mercy on him, and my condolences to his family and CHP community,” Turkish Parliament speaker Mustafa Şentop said. 

“I wish God’s mercy on the former Chairman of the CHP, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, our dear citizen, our Antalya deputy, Deniz Baykal. I offer my condolences and patience to his family,’ Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said. 

Source : Hürriyet Daily News

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been forced to focus his attention on the domestic front which has led to a de facto easing of tensions, especially on the rhetorical level, albeit without taking the issues that have been raised by Ankara in recent years off the table.

When news of the quake became known, Athens reacted swiftly, as it did with the war in Ukraine, when Greece was among the first countries to send Kyiv ammunition and RPG launchers.

The government wanted to wanted to show both Ankara and its Western partners that in the face of a humanitarian crisis, differences are put aside.

This was apparent in Brussels when Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis led the the calls on the need to further support Turkey with European aid. Greece’s role was also recognized by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who spoke positively about the communication between Athens and Ankara and the aid sent so far.

After a period in which the primary narrative propagated by the Erdogan government was that Athens was developing anti-Turkish scenarios, the praise regarding the contribution of the Greek EMAK rescue team established favorable associations for Greece in both domestic and international Turkish media.

Yet no one in Athens is under any illusions about long-term Greek-Turkish relations.

Firstly, it is still too early to assess how Erdogan will react in the runup to the May 14 elections. A first question is whether they will actually take place then.

A second consideration is how he will manage this catastrophe of gargantuan proportions at home. In the event that, as competent sources have said, he manages to get the economy up and running quickly, because of the need to build entire cities quickly, this may help to bring about a return to some form of growth as jobs will be created, even in the devastated areas.

If crisis management proves impossible and domestic pressure increases, which is not unlikely for the vast majority of countries in such circumstances, the same sources do not rule out Erdogan’s return to the “external enemy” – i.e Greece – and a return to an atmosphere of electoral polarization. 

Source: Ekathimerini

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