Bi-partisan Bloc of 69 Solons Urge Turkey Not to Sever Normal Diplomatic Relations with Israel

A bipartisan bloc of 69 Senators urged the Turkish government today to resist pressure from other governments to sever normal diplomatic relations with Israel.

In a letter delivered by Sen. Howard Metzenbaum (D. Ohio) to the Turkish Ambassador, Sukru Elekdag, the Senators expressed hope that the Turkish government will reconsider its “recent decision concerning diplomatic relations with Israel” and that the Ambassador convey to his government “our strong concerns.”

Turkey recently reduced its diplomatic representation in Tel Aviv and asked Israel to cut down its diplomatic personnel in Ankara. The letter was signed by 38 Democrats and 31 Republicans from 46 states, including 13 of the 17 members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

CONTENT OF THE LETTER

It stated that the Senators have been impressed with the resolve “your country has displayed in the past in maintaining normal diplomatic relations with both Egypt and Israel in the face of pressure from other governments. We understand, however, that recent pressure upon your government has led it to downgrade its diplomatic relationship with Israel. This step could have harmful consequences to both Israel and Egypt, two countries which are great friends (of the U.S.).

“If your government persists in this action, it will undermine the Camp David accords, hurt Israel and hamper efforts by President (Anwar) Sadat to bring moderation to the Middle East. We believe that Israel and Egypt present a strong hope for a just peace in the Middle East. We would be deeply disappointed if Turkey would yield to the wishes of extremist countries which seek only to bring discord to the Middle East.”

Of the 16 newly elected Republican Senators and two newly elected Republican Senators and two newly elected Democratic Senators, nine Republicans and the two Democrats signed the letter.