JERUSALEM - Israel on Sunday banned its soldiers from travelling to Turkey, amid tensions since a deadly Israeli raid on a Turkish-owned ship, its anti-terrorism office said. The office, which answers to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said the ban applied in particular to reservists planning holidays in Turkey, a favourite destination for Israelis.
The Israeli raid on Gaza-bound aid ships on May 31, in which nine Turks were killed on the Turkish vessel, has plunged the fragile ties between the onetime strong allies into a deep crisis.
Authorities in the Jewish state last week urged Israelis to put off travel plans to Turkey, where a series of anti-Israeli demonstrations have been held since the raid. According to Turkey's culture and tourism minister, Ertugrul Gunay, between 10,000 and 200,000 Israelis have since cancelled trips to his country.
| That's an awfully wide range. At both ends it represents substantial losses for the Turks, whose economy has been on a roller coaster since the '90s. |
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