TURKISH-ISRAELI RELATIONS DURING 2009

In the date of January 29, 2009 Turkish PM criticized harshly Israel in Davos. We know the crisis called “one minutes!”. PM concerned “Gaza operations” which connected with to use disproportional force on the innocent Palestinians. Turkey has criticized Israel several times from 1950’s. Nonetheless pro Islamic Turkish cabinet’s approach to Israel is perceived ideologically.

Turkey’s cancellation of Anatolian Eagle air force drill was concerned intensively in Turkey and Israel. Firstly, Turkey abolished drill’s international division. It was perceived that Israel was excluded from the drill by Turkey. After the event, US and Italy withdrew from Anatolian Eagle. US and Italy’s behaviour was commented as a protest to Turkey. Also, Turkey’s attitude was evaulated to protest Israel’s Operation Cast Lead in Gaza Strip. In Turkish public opinion, there was an intensive debate during Operation Cast Lead why Israeli Air Force planes’ were trained in Anatolian Eagle. Turkish government hesitated critics from pro Islamic fractions.


In fact, another reason the prime minister's anger at December until 2008, Turkey's facilitation in the ongoing Israeli-Syrian negotiations was to cut off. Moreover, Prime Minister Erdogan and President Gul in December 2008 to the "farewell visit" perform, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of Israel during that period, did not give any information about the operation.



In spite of the high tension, Israel's industry-trade and labor minister Ben Eliezer attended Turkey's anniversary of the founding of Republic Day (October 29, 2009)in Turkey's Tel Aviv embassy. He has made a warmly speech. Eliezer's behaviour was a short but an important step from Israel's side. Last year Israel's president and many ministers of Israel's cabinet had come for October 29 to Turkish embassy. After Ben Eliezer came Turkey for an official visit. He made consultations with Turkish officials include Turkish president. (Except Turkish PM)

Recently Turkish ambassador to Israel (Oguz Cevikkol) invited Israel's defence minister and leader of Labor Party Ehud Barak to Turkey. So Barak will come Turkey officially nexth month. (January 2010)

Turkish president Gul was in Kopenhag about World Climate Summit. Gul and Israel's president Peres met in Kopenhag with their staff. The consultation lasted for an hour.

Reuters, "Turkish president to visit Israel", December 18, 2009. http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSLDE5BH20Q


After the meeting, a cautious optimism became. Peres repeated Israel's official invitation to Gul. Turkish presidency's official announcement indicated "if conditions would occur, Turkish president will come to Israel in an avaliable time."

Turkey's another expectation is about to have a facilitator role between Israel-Syria negotiaitons again. As we know, Israel PM Netenyahu prefers direct negotiations or instead of Turkey, call France for facilitating. However, potential developments about Turkish-Israeli relations and US approach could bring Turkey as a facilitator once more.

January 29, 2009 was an exception for bilateral relations. Otherwise how can be believable, an US ally country could cut off relations with Israel. It was only an illusion.

Also, pro western moderate Sunni Arab regimes support Fatah and Mahmut Abbas in West Bank. Their preference is related Palestine Authority. In these conditions Turkish cabinet's approach to Hamas, created contradicitions. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia condemned Hizballah during second Lebanon War. According to Israeli press, Israel's former PM Olmert and Saudi officials made consultations in that time. But Turkish cabinet was more anger than Saudi Arabia about Israel. One more point concern Iran's nuclear activities. Turkey vote impartial in IAEA to make sanctions to Iran. Turkey is one of the temporary member of UN Security Council. If all of permanent members would endorse sanctions, what would Turkey do? So, Turkish Foreign Policy's approach during Justice and Development Party era, can not reach a coherent level. Turkey is ally of USA and member of NATO. At last, Turkey would behave with her allies. Neo Ottoman view also could create a frustration on the Arab masses. And Iran is one of the competitor against pro western moderate Sunni Arab regimes. We can note, Gulf Cooperation Council decided to found a common army. It is evaulated to make precaution about Iran's activites from Southern Iraq to Eastern Medirerranean. So Iran's policies mainly target Sunni Arab regimes and Iran uses anti Israeli discourse to legitimate her regional leadership architecture.

Our conclusion underlines 2009 for Turkish-Israeli relations to loss of the time. January 2009 created a higher tension, December 2009 convert it to a reconciliation. Rest of these events are polemics and Middle Eastern leadership dreams.

But bilateral relations are important to sustain stability, democracy, modern economic structures and maintain western values in the region.