Turkish Company Barred from Haifa Port Tender over 'Hizbullah Ties'

The Israel Government Companies Authority decided this week to disqualify a Turkish company from taking part in a tender for the privatization of Haifa Port, an Israeli media report said.

Sources close to the matter told Israeli financial newspaper Globes that the reason for the disqualification is that one of the owners of the Turkish company is also a member of the shipping company operating Beirut Port.

Israeli intelligence sources involved in the tender process told Globes that one of the controlling owners of Yilport, Turkish businessman Robert Yuksel Yildirim, is also a management member of the CMA CGM Group, one of the world's largest shipping companies.

Among other facilities, CMA CGM operates the Beirut Port in Lebanon.

“Israeli intelligence reports and classified information indicate a connection between CMA GCM and senior Hizbullah figures and Shi'ite terrorist activists worldwide… The company also operates Latakia port in Syria, through which Iran conveys weapons to Hizbullah,” the newspaper added.

“The decision to disqualify Yilport has not come as a surprise in Turkey and it is not expected to harm improving relations between Israel and Turkey,” Globes added.