Ha’aretz, Israel
Oct 18 2009
Comment / How do Turkey and Israel measure each other’s love?
By Zvi Bar’el Haaretz Correspondent
Once in a while Israel picks a Turkish daisy and begins pulling off
its petals one at a time: "She loves me, she loves me not, she loves
me, she loves me not." Last week it was "she loves me not." How is
Turkey’s love for Israel measured? Is it by expelling Israel from a
joint military exercise and showing a television series on the Israel
Defense Forces’ supposed activities in the territories, or by
purchases of military equipment and intelligence cooperation? And how
does Turkey measure Israel’s love? By Israel pushing Turkey out of all
diplomatic efforts on the Palestinian issue, or by the Jewish lobby’s
actions in the United States favoring Turkey, mostly against efforts
to define the Armenian holocaust as genocide?
It seems that in the two countries’ relations, terms like "love" and
"betrayal" have replaced the correct terminology of interests and
strategic partnership. Israel feels betrayed by Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan’s verbal assault, rushing to link Turkey with the
"Islamic-Iranian-Syrian" axis of evil. And perhaps Turkey can’t come
to terms with Israel’s lack of consideration for what it considers
most important: allowing it to take part in regional diplomacy. The
region’s sole Muslim country with genuine "ties of love" with Israel
finds itself cast aside like a useless piece of equipment, at a time
when she is offering to be a partner.
Because in Israel’s eyes, Turkey is seen as two states – one in the
form of the military, twin sister of Israel, the other political,
leaning toward Islam and making friends with Syria and Iran. Thus,
insolent Israel decided in a typical manner not to take Turkey’s
politicians seriously and to adopt the Turkish army. Israel was also
certain all these years that Turkey, backward and poor, needed its
sole friend in the Middle East because it was not accepted in the
region due to its Ottoman history and close ties with Israel and the
United States, and therefore could not do without Israel.
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So in Israel, people have been quick to conclude that "something went
wrong" in Turkey. Suddenly the government rules the army instead of
the army, Israel’s loyal friend, telling the government what to do.
Israelis did not think for a minute that the Turkish army might also
have had enough.
Turkey has changed; inwardly, for the most part. In a long and
difficult process it has become a more democratic country. The army is
still dominant, but less public in its role in the civilian domain.
Turkey has overcome most of its economic problems and has been
transformed into a regional economic power. It is a real strategic
asset for the United States, increasing its importance after the Iraq
war. It has also developed a different regional strategy.
Whoever reads what Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu says recognizes
that Turkey aspires to become an influential player not only in the
Middle East but also in the Caucasus and Asia. It is involved in the
fighting in Afghanistan, is forming an economic alliance with Iraq,
plans to invest billions of dollars in Egypt, and its annual trade
with Iran stands at $9 billion, with Syria at $1.5 billion.
And here is the paradox. This is the only Muslim country that is not
harshly criticized, whether by Iran or any Arab state, for having such
close ties with Israel. As such, it could have served as an excellent
mediator between Israel and the Arab countries had Israel not
considered it an obvious satellite state.
Turkey is not a saint. Its modern history is replete with terrible
events including the destruction of thousands of Kurdish villages, the
eviction of millions of people, bombing sometimes without proper
distinguishing of targets, political arrests and torture. This is also
why it has considered Israel an ally. But the moment comes when even
evil countries don a suit and tie and ask to join a new club that
allegedly is honorable and carries out "just wars." Israel, which is
certain that all its wars are just, still doesn’t understand where it
went wrong.
Turkey, the second Muslim country after Iran to recognize Israel in
1949, is neither kicking Israel nor changing its spots. But it doesn’t
want its ally to embarrass it, whether in front of its own public or
its other allies.
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