JERUSALEM, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- A Turkish port company was disqualified from participating in a tender for the privatization of the northern state-owned Haifa Port, Israeli media reported on Monday.
The financial websites Calcalist, Globes and TheMarker reported that the Turkish company Yilport was disqualified "for security reasons and for reasons related to Israel's foreign relations."
According to the reports, the group that registered for the tender which includes the Turkish company was notified about the disqualification by the Israeli Government Companies Authority. The group also includes U.S., British and Israeli companies.
The websites said that the decision was made in a decisive discussion held by Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, and representatives of the defense bodies and the ministries of finance and foreign affairs.
According to the reports, Yilport's possible ties with the Turkish government and with the Lebanese military organization Hezbollah prevented the company from participating in the tender.
After the disqualification, four groups remained in the race, consisting of companies from India, Britain and Israel. ■
