Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely said Thursday that Israel does not intend to sever relations with Turkey.
Interviewed by Israeli public radio against the backdrop of tensions over Israel's Gaza policy, Hotovely said, "After many consultations, including with the prime minister, it was decided that our desire is not to sever ties with Turkey, a huge and important country in the region. All our flight routes are over Turkey. There is a large amount of trade with them and there is a large Jewish community there that needs Israeli backing. We need to preserve all this."