Links to its former ally are under threat after Turkey's angry reaction to Israel's flotilla attack, writes MICHAEL JANSENin Jerusalem
TURKEY’S THREAT to minimise relations with Israel following its commando operation against the Free Gaza flotilla could leave Israel isolated in the Middle East region. Three joint military exercises have been cancelled by Ankara, which is reconsidering a $180 million(€150 million) arms deal with Israel, and, fearing hostility, 20,000 Israelis have cancelled holidays to Turkey.
In the wake of the second World War, the three non-Arab powers – Israel, Turkey and Iran – were closely allied to each other and the West.
Iran defected in 1979 when the shah was overthrown by the anti-western, anti-Israeli clerical regime. The opposition in Iran has joined the deeply anti-Israeli regime to condemn and protest over its seizure of the boats, presenting a solid hostile front.
Therefore, the alienation of Turkey, Israel’s remaining non- Arab local partner, is a major blow. In 1949 Turkey became the first regional and second Muslim state to recognise Israel. This relationship alienated the Arabs who continued to resent Ottoman rule and considered modern Turkey a defector from the Muslim front against Israel. Arab hostility to Turkey deepened when Ankara maintained relations with Israel following the occupation 43 years ago of the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza, while many Third World countries broke off relations.
Turkey retained a wide range of military, trade, political, and tourism ties to Israel. But the fabric of this relationship began to unravel in 2008-2009 when Ankara was sharply critical of Israel’s war on Gaza and was rent when Ankara lent its support to the Turkish charity that joined the blockade-busting flotilla.
On the one hand, since the Turkish contingent of activists was the largest, Israel feared Turkish ships would try to establish a regular shipping corridor to Gaza. This was, indeed, the objective of the Turkish charity.
On the other hand, Ankara’s furious reaction to Israel’s military action made Turkey the champion of the 1.5 million besieged and blockaded people of Gaza. The death of nine Turks during the Israeli operation has given Ankara’s good neighbour policy a powerful boost among the emotional Arabs.
Turkey’s tough stance is compared to the failure of the Arab authorities to take action to break the blockade of Gaza and to the ineffectual Arab fulmination over Israel’s attack on the flotilla.
Palestinians in both Gaza and the West Bank argue: “Turks are better Arabs than the Arabs.” Aware that this is a widespread popular discontent, Cairo partially opened the Rafah crossing to Egypt to Palestinian travellers, Jordan offered medical aid to activists wounded in the Israeli assault on the ship, and the Palestinian Authority will grant Palestinian passports to all those involved with the flotilla.
But Cairo, Amman and Ramallah are not threatening to minimise ties with Israel. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas risks antagonising Palestinians by insisting that US-brokered proximity talks will continue, although few Palestinians believe they will be fruitful with a government that uses force against humanitarian activists seeking to succour Gaza.
Furthermore, the effects of Israel’s commando assault on the ships is being felt far beyond this region. Greeks are very angry over Israel’s capture of the Greek boat Sofia, while Malaysians are upset over Israel’s likely sabotage of Challenger II, seizure of Challenger I, and threats against the Rachel Corrie.
Although the latter is widely seen as the “Irish boat”, it and the two “Challengers” were bought by money raised from donations by the Malaysian Perdana Leadership Foundation, headed by the country’s respected former premier Mahathir Mohamad.
Resentment is roiling public opinion in all 32 countries whose citizens took part in the flotilla.