Future of bilateral ties up to Israel’s recognition of new paradigm in relations

Yet, the May 31, 2010 Israeli attack on a humanitarian aid flotilla added insult to injury, with bilateral relations between the once-regional allies becoming deadlocked.

Turkey, once a regional ally of Israel, has scaled back its ties, demanding that Israel apologize and pay damages for the May 31 raid, which caused an international outcry. Eight Turkish nationals and one Turkish-American were shot dead in the raid when Israeli marines stormed the Mavi Marmara, part of an international aid flotilla trying to break the blockade of the Gaza Strip.

Since the June 12 parliamentary elections in which Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party (AK Party) came to power for the third consecutive term, positive and warm messages have been pouring into Ankara from Tel Aviv with Israeli coalition partners declaring their will to move ahead towards normalization of relations.

Yet, Israel has not yet caved in to demands from Turkey for normalization of the bilateral relations, with Ankara making clear on numerous occasions that relations must be normalized via a fulfillment of Turkey’s conditions on Israel.

Some observers suggest that once Israel recognizes the new paradigm in relations with Turkey, then a new and healthier relationship between the two once-regional allies can emerge. The same observers point to the changing nature of bilateral relations between Ankara and Washington in the Obama era. Relations had suffered during the Bush administration after the Turkish Parliament rejected a government motion on March 1, 2003 to allow US troops to open up a northern front against Iraq from Turkey, thus leading to the reference to the “March 1 syndrome” when talking about the relationship between the two NATO allies.

“One should not forget that the Middle East peace process was stalled through actions by Israel, and everything, the deterioration in relations, started with the Israeli operation into Gaza,” a Turkish government official told Sunday’s Zaman.

The official, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, was referring to the fact that in the Turkish-mediated indirect talks between Israel and Syria, the parties had neared the point of initiating direct talks when Israel launched its deadly offensive against Gaza in late December 2008.

The deal for beginning direct talks was nearly ready, with just one final word to be negotiated between Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and then-Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert during a scheduled telephone conversation, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu had explained at the time, while voicing harsh criticism against those portraying the current Turkish government as the main reason for the deterioration of bilateral relations with Israel.

“However, just half an hour before the scheduled telephone conversation, Israel attacked Gaza. Who is to be blamed? Israel played the game of peace and attacked,” Davutoğlu had said in remarks delivered in November 2010.

The same government official told Sunday’s Zaman that Israel is used to getting away with inappropriate actions in its bilateral relations with all countries, not only with Turkey, since it is also used to behaving like “a spoiled child” of the United States.

“So far, they have resisted seeing that Turkey has no intention at all of letting Israel get away with its attack on a civilian convoy in international waters, thereby committing a violation of international law. Even the recent messages from Tel Aviv show that they are still not aware that they cannot just kiss and make up with Turkey through such actions as their prime minister’s sending a congratulatory letter to our prime minister after the June 12 elections. They have been introducing the sending of the letter as a unilateral gesture, despite the fact that it was solely a routine and customary letter,” the official elaborated.

“I believe that Israel is really keen on normalization of relations because this will favor Israel. But they want to circumnavigate Turkey’s firm conditions. This approach will not work,” the official stated.

When reminded of Israeli leaders’ remarks praising Turkey’s regional role and suggesting that Turkey and Israel should join forces for the sake of both their own nations and of the region’s people, the official said: “Turkey does not need Israel’s acknowledgement of its regional policies. What is needed for normalization of bilateral relations with Israel is clear. Bold statements on developments in the region will not make Turkey forget its demands from Israel for normalizing relations.”

Warning from Turan

İlter Turan, a professor of political science at İstanbul Bilgi University, remarked that the change of paradigm in relations between Turkey and the United States was closely related to the post-Cold War era since this era has changed the US role within NATO.

“The flexibility in relations in the post-Cold War era has paved the way for a relationship that is based on more equal terms. Turkey’s growing economy has been added as another key element in this relationship, and Turkish-US relations have settled on a new ground,” Turan told Sunday’s Zaman.

“As for the case with Israel; we should not miss the fact that the deterioration is interconnected with Israel’s relations with the Palestinians. Having a healthy relationship with Israel via embracing all of the positions held by the Palestinian side is not possible. Israel is a country that feels alone and under threat, thus it is taking an over-defensive line,” he added.

“What kind of a new paradigm can be set? Turkey should, of course, continue supporting the Palestinians’ longings, but it should also make clear that it is against movements that hope to wipe Israel off the map such as Iran or the majority of the Hamas leadership,” Turan cautioned.