ISRAEL NOT TO STAND ALOOF FROM DEVELOPMENTS IN GREATER MIDDLE EAST
Karine Ter-Sahakyan

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
09.02.2010 GMT+04:00

Turkey and Israel are still strategic partners in words until Ankara
finally decides that Arab world is more important than the Jewish
State.

After the operation "Cast Lead" in Gaza Strip Israel considerably
intensified its activity in the region. With the exception of
"deteriorating" relations with Turkey, the course of Official Tel Aviv
is quite understandable; major changes and developments are evolving
in the region, related to the Jewish State and the Greater Middle
East. Against this background, the statements of Foreign Minister
Avigdor Lieberman before his visit to Baku are perceived much more
seriously than they really are.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Meanwhile it should be noted that no visit of
prominent political figures to Baku passes without a mention of the
Karabakh conflict. Lieberman too decided to have his input, stating
that "The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a very sensitive issue and it
shouldn’t be discussed either in public or in the media." Moreover,
the work carried out by international organizations towards settlement
of the conflict was assessed as unsatisfactory by Lieberman.

Ultimately all his remarks were called to prove that Azerbaijan is a
serious and reliable partner of Israel. In his words, these countries
have many similarities and bilateral relations between them are
rapidly developing.

Lieberman’s statements should be viewed not only in the light of
Israeli-Azerbaijani relations, but also, more importantly, from
the perspective of Israeli-Turkish relations. Turkey and Israel are
still strategic partners in words and they will remain such until
Ankara finally decides that the Arab world is more important than
the tiny Jewish State with its unmeasured ambitions. By the way,
Turkish government has absolutely nothing to do here: the growing
anti-Semitism in the country will do its work. But the main "argument"
of the Turkish side is, of course, the possible recognition of the
Armenian Genocide by the United States and, consequently, by Israel.

However, there is one more issue yet inconceivable: Israel may become a
regional power too, thanks to its nuclear bomb, which Turkey and Iran
lack at the moment. It should also be noted that Israeli army, though
small in comparison with the Turkish one, is quite powerful and mobile,
almost like the Armenian army in contrast to the Azerbaijani one…

In this regard, the forthcoming visit of Armenian Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan to Jerusalem takes on importance. Such visits, even if they
are marked as private, are often more important and more productive
than formal meetings. In any case, the Armenian Prime Minister will
obviously meet with representatives of Israel and, possibly, with his
colleague Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as with Avigdor Lieberman. After
all, the invitation was extended by the Israeli Foreign Ministry.

Most likely the counterparts will discuss possible opening of the
Israeli Embassy in Yerevan. It is still hard to say how important it
could be for Armenia, but for Israel Armenia may be useful in case of
deterioration of relations with Iran. And the relations are destined
to deterioration. In Jerusalem they openly speak of a war with Iran,
as something taken for granted. Israel has to secure the rear, as it
is not clear how Turkey and Azerbaijan will behave in case of possible
launch of military action. So, what will prevail? Islamic solidarity
or assurances of age-long friendship? It is then that Yerevan will be
needed, especially since both states are too alike. They even hold
the top ranks of the U.S budget in terms of American aid. In short,
we’ll wait & see. Only one thing is unclear; what will Armenia get
from the opening of the Israeli Embassy? There are more Armenians in
Israel than Jews in Armenia, but it looks no one is going to open an
Embassy of Armenia there.