"STRATEGIC ALLIANCE"

Turkish defense minister Vecdi Gönül stated a very interesting sentence during Israeli defense minister and leader of Labor Party Ehud Barak's visit . (January 17, 2010) He has evaulated bilateral relations as "strategic alliance". He has responded a journalist question, question was about, "Are Turkey and Israel strategic partners?" Turkish minister tried to indicate a less level but also have strategic importance. However "strategic alliance" is also significant. According to international relations experts, bilateral relations which sustain since 1949, reached military-defense-intelligence infrastructure with "peripheral pact" in 1958, developed with 1996 and 1997 treaties especially economically and militarily, expressed as an alignment not alliance.
The interesting point, current Turkish government seems to be most problematic government with Israel, but also consider being "alliance". It means to have confusion for Turkish Foreign Policy.
Before Gönül, Israeli minister met with Turkish foreign minister Davutoğlu. Meeting was about 3 and a half hour. Davutoğlu didn't make an explanation like Gönül. But it must be noted that, he called "zero problems with neighbors" for Turkey. Even though, Gönül announced Israel as a neighbor not physically but politically. And enhanced with alliance concept.
As it is known, according to cabinet, Turkey is US', Russia's, Syria's and Lebanon's "strategic partner". It means strategic partnership is used as useless.
In this context, "strategic partnership" explanation could be concerned "seriously" by foreign authorities? But Barak's visit has a positive potential for further term. Why Ayalon repeated his goofs. He emphasized if Turkish movies or series would go on, Israel to expel Turkish ambassador. In spite of Ayalon's statement, Turkish PM Erdoğan told to the media, "we don't care Ayalon's explanations, Barak's statement is essential for us, we will not deepen crisis".
These days not alliance but alignment has risks for Turkish-Israeli relations. But Turkey brought to Turkish-Israeli relations agenda "strategic alliance" concept first time in 60 years. It is attractive.
In the conclusion, US factor to bilateral relations must not be forgotten. When we think, each of them has an alliance relation with US, it can be understood better.