Pipeline as "a serious blow to Turkish-Israeli relations."

The U.S. Defense Department sent a telegram to the Israeli Foreign Ministry last week on the possibility of pumping oil from U.S.-occupied Iraq to Israel, reported a leading Israeli newspaper Monday, August 25....

Israeli Premier Ariel Sharon’s government "views the pipeline to Haifa as a ‘bonus’ the U.S. could give to Israel in return for its unequivocal support for the American-led campaign in Iraq," according to Haaretz.

Ankara, which considers the transit fee it collects an important source of revenue, has warned Israel it would regard the talked-about Kirkuk-Mosul-Haifa pipeline as "a serious blow to Turkish-Israeli relations."

Haaretz quoted sources as saying reports about the alternative pipeline are part of an American "attempt to apply pressure on Turkey" which had opposed the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and is still reluctant to commit troops to the neighboring country to ease the burden on American forces.

http://www.turks.us/article.php?story=20030825102843473

Just wait till Israel send's in Coalition troops.

This ought to be interesting.

.

Inquiring minds want to know.

Perhaps the intention was to convey first nation in the region Westernized by indigenous leadership?