mainstream news on Kurds / Israel t

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Subject: mainstream news on Kurds / Israel to upgrade Turkish defence


12 Kurdish rebels killed in Turkey, north Iraq

     DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (Reuter) - Turkish troops killed 12
Kurdish separatist rebels Sunday in separate clashes in
southeastern Turkey and across the Iraqi border, reports from
the region said.
     The emergency rule governor's office, based in Diyarbakir,
said in a statement that Turkish forces killled nine Kurdistan
Workers Party (PKK) fighters in operations in Bitlis, Bingol and
Siirt provinces.
     Three others were captured in the regions of Tunceli and
Elizag, it said. There was no word of any government losses nor
any independent confirmation of the reports.
     Across the Iraqi border, three PKK guerrillas were killed
after they attacked a post belonging to rival Iraqi Kurds of the
Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), Turkey's state-controlled
Anatolian news agency said.
     Eight KDP ``peshmerga'' guerrillas were wounded while
repelling the early-morning assault by dozens of PKK rebels,
Anatolian said.
     The latest incidents reflect heightened tensions along the
sensitive border separating Turkey from the Iraqi Kurdish
enclave under Western military protection.
     Last month the PKK emerged from mountain hideouts in
northern Iraq to attack targets in KDP-held territory -- an
apparent bid to secure bases for attacks inside Turkey.
     PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan last month told a leading Arabic
daily that his forces sought to provoke a fresh incursion into
northern Iraq by Turkish forces.
     The aim, he said, was to provoke Western criticism of Ankara
before the European parliament's expected vote this autumn on a
European Union customs accord with Turkey.
     In March, Turkey sent 35,000 troops pouring over the Iraqi
border to suppress PKK bases, a move that was denounced by many
of Ankara's European allies. A much smaller cross-border
operation in July, by contrast, drew a muted response.

Israel wins contract to upgrade Turkey's airforce

     JERUSALEM (Reuter) - Israel Aircraft Industries has won a
contract to upgrade 54 Phantom F-4 jets of the Turkish air
force, Israeli industry sources said Sunday.
     The deal was both a shot in the arm for Israel's defense
industries and a sign of the strengthening ties between Israel
and Turkey, distant during decades of Arab-Israeli conflict but
both firm U.S. allies with a range of shared interests.
     The sources could not confirm the value of the five-year
contract, saying finances were still under negotiation.
     But two Israeli newspapers reported the deal was worth $600
million which would make it one of state-controlled Israel
Aircraft's biggest single contracts.
     Turkey, a Muslim but secular nation, and Israel kept a
political distance during decades of Arab-Israeli conflict but
good relations have blossomed in recent years after the Middle
East peace process began.
     Both nations have an interest in curbing Islamic militancy.
Last year they signed a comprehensive security protocol to
jointly combat international terrorism and organised crime.
     In November Prime Minister Tansu Ciller became the first
Turkish leader to visit the Jewish state since its creation in
1948.
     But bilateral defense ventures have been taking place for
over a decade and Israeli military contractors have been
negotiating for Turkish contracts since the early 1980s,
according to Jane's International Defense Review.
     The Turkish air force first selected IAI last year to
modernise its F-4s but the contract was delayed by workshare
negotiations as Turkey sought greater participation for its own
industry.
     According to Israeli newspapers it has now been agreed that
part of the work will take place in Turkey.
     The upgrading of the McDonnell Douglas fighter bombers will
involve advanced avionics systems including radar and electronic
warfare and navigation systems.
     Israel Aircraft will be the prime contractor, with several
leading Israeli defense companies involved as subcontractors.
     The deal is based on the Phantom 2000 package used to
upgrade Israeli air force F-4s.

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 * Origin: APS Amsterdam (aps.nl), bbs +31-20-6842147 (16:31/2.0)