TURKEY’S HARSH CRITICISM OF ISRAEL RAISES QUESTIONS
By Yigal Schleifer

Jewish Telegraphic Agency
170/turkeys-harsh-criticism-of-israel-raises-quest ions
Jan 12 2009
NY

At a recent anti-Israel protest in Istanbul, marchers held signs
showing Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan shaking hands
with his Israeli counterpart, Ehud Olmert, with the words "These are
our killers." (Yigal Schleifer)NEWS ANALYSIS

ISTANBUL (JTA) — Israel’s operation in Gaza is proving to be both
a test and an opportunity for its strongest ally in the Middle East.

Turkey is trying to position itself as a regional Mideast mediator,
but Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s harsh criticism of Israel
and rising popular anger in the country against Israeli actions could
strain relations with Jerusalem and compromise Ankara’s ability to
play the role of honest broker.

For the past few years, Turkey has sought to establish itself as a
regional power broker, strengthening ties with neighbors it previously
had kept at an arm’s length and even bringing Israel and Syria together
for a round of secret meetings in Istanbul.

Erdogan has been conducting his own shuttle diplomacy during the
Israel-Hamas conflict, visiting Syria, Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia
earlier this month in a bid to broker a cease-fire between the foes. At
the same time, however, his criticism of Israel has been significantly
stronger than even most Arab leaders.

Israel is "perpetrating inhuman actions which would bring it to
self-destruction," Erdogan said at a recent municipal election campaign
rally. "Allah will sooner or later punish those who transgress the
rights of innocents."

Erdogan also called Israeli actions a "crime against humanity"
and reportedly is refusing to take phone calls from Israeli Prime
Minister Ehud Olmert with his nation’s troops in Gaza.

The Turkish newspaper Vatan noted that the only other leaders in
the Middle East to use language like Erdogan’s have been regional
firebrands Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Muammar Gadhafi, the presidents
of Iran and Libya, respectively.

The question is whether Erdogan’s statements have undercut Turkey’s
ability to deliver on what it insists is the added value it brings
to the Middle Eastern negotiating table: its ability to serve as a
conduit to Israel.

"Erdogan’s choice of language presents Turkey as being ready to carry
Hamas’ demands to the U.N. Security Council and as being unable to
remain an equal distance from both sides," Soli Ozel, who teaches
international relations at Istanbul’s Bilgi University, wrote recently
in the daily Sabah.

"This depicts Ankara as a less effective player than it really is
and than it must be," he wrote. "It restricts Turkey’s ability to
play an active role in what happens. It damages Turkey’s credibility."

Still, experts say that mutual interests — particularly over regional
security issues — will likely keep Turkey-Israel relations from
rupturing. On the eve of the Gaza operation, which began Dec. 27,
the two countries signed a $141 million deal in which Israel will
provide the Turkish air force with airborne space imagery intelligence
systems over the next four years.

"Long term, I don’t see much impact," said Lale Sariibrahimoglu,
a military analyst based in Ankara. "Both nations need each other."

Sami Kohen, a columnist with the daily Milliyet and a veteran observer
of Turkish foreign policy, agrees.

"There might be a kind of a cold atmosphere between the two countries
for perhaps weeks to come, but I don’t anticipate any further action
by Turkey in terms of reducing relations, particularly in terms of
diplomatic ties," Kohen said.

Indeed, despite his strong rhetoric, Erdogan has rejected calls by
members of the Turkish Parliament to suspend Turkey’s ties with Israel.

"I would like to remind those who call for Turkey to freeze ties
with Israel that we administer the Republic of Turkey, not a grocery
market," Erdogan recently told parliament.

Erdogan’s reaction to Israel’s Gaza operation is based on real anger
that his efforts of the past few years to bridge divides in the Middle
East — particularly between Israel and Syria — may be going up in
smoke as a result of the Gaza operation. But there is also a domestic
component to his response.

Turks have reacted angrily to Israel’s actions, with large protests
taking place nearly every day around Turkey. Even a basketball game
in Ankara between Turkish and Israeli had to be called off after
protesters stormed the court.

"This is the first time that the public reaction has been so
widespread," Kohen noted. "It’s very intensive this time. There haven’t
been such widespread and spontaneous anti-Israel sentiments before."

"It’s not just the Islamic circles," he added. "It’s also the
secularists and the nationalists. The protests have been representative
of the whole of Turkish society."

Meanwhile, Jewish community leaders in Turkey say they are concerned
that the strong anti-Israel sentiment is also turning anti-Semitic.

Dayanisma Vakfi, an Islamic group, has been putting up graphic
billboards all over Istanbul showing a bloody and smoldering baby’s
shoe. Written next to the shoe in big letters are the words, "You
cannot be the children of Moses" and, in smaller words, "Thou shalt
not kill."

A Jewish community official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said,
"We are worried about the combination of all the biting, scathing
items in the press that are coming out and the personal reactions
that we are seeing."

With Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) facing nationwide
municipal elections in March, the government’s relations with Israel
could be a liability.

Placards have been appearing at protests showing Erdogan and Olmert
shaking hands and accusing the AKP of "collaborating" with Israel.

But Erdogan may also find himself walking a tightrope when it comes
to distancing Turkey from Israel. Ankara has long depended on Israel
to act as a conduit to Washington and to American Jewish organizations
that frequently have acted as a kind of surrogate lobby for Turkey in
Washington. In the past, Jewish organizations have been instrumental
in helping Turkey block efforts to introduce resolutions in Congress
recognizing Armenian genocide claims.

"There is real anger with Erdogan on Capital Hill and among people
who follow Turkey in Washington," said a Washington-based consultant
who closely monitors Turkish affairs. "Nobody is threatening anything
right now or knows if there are going to be repercussions, but this
is going to have an effect."

The consultant added, "There is a sense that Erdogan’s used up a lot
of good will."