Turkey refuses to take part in joint naval exercises with Israel, USA

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Turkish officials said that their country’s fleet would not take part in the annual naval exercises “Reliant Mermaid” launched by USA and Israel in the Mediterranean Sea for the second straight year.Turkish daily Zaman on Friday quoted foreign ministry officials as saying that no “joint” exercises could be launched with Israel in light of the tense relations between them.The last Turkish participation in the decade old drill was in summer 2009.Ankara refused to participate in last year’s maneuvers to protest the Israeli naval attack on the Turkish ship Mavi Maramara, which was among a fleet of humanitarian aid sailing to Gaza Strip, killing nine Turkish activists and wounding many others./129