This method seems like the European Union’s way of proceeding. Once countries establish a cooperative relationship in numerous areas, the old rivalries lose their significance, and the parties get the opportunity to resolve their problems through dialogue and peaceful means. This model is also working between Greece and Turkey to some extent, as these countries have managed not to engage in a war with each other, partially because they are both NATO members and because Turkey is an EU candidate country, a fact which also makes us say that if Turkey becomes an EU member, the Cyprus issue and the problems with Armenia will be resolved much more quickly.The rapprochement with Syria, which is an extremely strategic country, is just a beginning, as Turkey intends to do the same with Iraq, Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan. The Turkey-Syria model has two legs: First, Turkey wants to establish close bilateral relations with Middle Eastern countries. Through this network, Turkey will become some sort of coordinator in this region. However, these Middle Eastern countries have serious problems with each other. So the second leg of this model is to make sure that these develop similar close relationships with each other. Both legs of this model must be working simultaneously; if not the whole system will be deadlocked sooner or later.
As this model intends to create a stable area around Turkey, Israel’s major role must be mentioned, too, because every Middle Eastern problem is directly or indirectly related to Israel, and it’s no longer sustainable for Syria, Lebanon and Jordan or even for Iraq to continue with long-running problems with that country or even with Iran. All these countries must make their decisions on how to join the global system’s transformations and how to modify their domestic and international policies’ paradigms. Turkey had launched its own changes with the EU process, and Turkey’s transformation may accelerate the change of those around it. This is what the Turkey-Syria model envisages.
It is time for Israel to clarify its own choices. It’s obvious that the US “anchor” hasn’t helped Israel find permanent solutions to its domestic and foreign problems so far, and this country had to live in a security-state atmosphere surrounded by conflicts, despite being a generator of peace and democracy. Israel can easily take steps without damaging its relationship with the US. These steps may be directly about the Palestinians, but one should keep in mind that everything Israel does about the Palestinians determines Israel’s relations with other countries. That’s why expecting the resolution of the Palestinian problem first in order to proceed in other areas means waiting for many more years. To expect the US or some other actor’s intervention may also mean a long waiting period.
That’s why Israel has to make some choices quickly. If it doesn’t “integrate” the process of the Syria-Turkey model, its isolation will grow. But if Israel does join in, it will have to abandon its policy of conflict. Israel’s reticence may be explained by its fear of losing ground on the Palestinian problem. Nevertheless, it is already stuck on this issue, and the Turkey-Syria model may constitute a way out. But in order to achieve this, Israel has to change models and Turkey, mentality.
