Turkish protesters shout slogans and burn Israel's national flags during a protest against Israel to show solidarity with defenders of Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque in central Istanbul

Opinion: It's getting chilly between Turkey and Israel

DiggThis

As Turkey gets friendlier with Syria and Iraq, relations with Israel take a back seat.

By HDS Greenway - GlobalPost
Published: October 21, 2009 11:16 ET

BOSTON — A strategic fault line is opening up in the Middle East with balance of power ramifications for the region. It is the growing coolness between two previously close allies: Turkey and Israel.

Last week “Anatolian Eagle,” a planned NATO exercise on Turkish soil was canceled when Turkey withdrew an invitation to Israel to participate. The United States and Italy promptly withdrew their participation, making the exercise pointless. Turkey said the reason was its opposition to Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians in Gaza.

Israel and Turkey have a long history of military cooperation, and a joint naval exercise did take place as recently as last summer. Israeli airplanes routinely train over Turkey’s vast Anatolian airspace — Israel’s own space being so limited.

On the cultural front, Israel has made the strongest possible protests over a Turkish TV drama called “Separation.” The show depicts what Israelis claim are Israeli soldiers gunning down Palestinian children. Israeli foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, said that the TV series “would not be appropriate in an enemy country and certainly not in a state which maintains diplomatic relations with Israel.” The Turks responded by saying that theirs was not a country based on censorship.

Israel has long had a strategic policy of trying to woo a non-Arab ally in the region in order to outflank the Arab powers still hostile towards Israel. Until 1979 that ally was Iran under the Shah. The Israelis had an embassy in Tehran, masquerading as a trade mission, and it was possible to fly directly between Tehran and Tel Aviv on El Al, the Israeli national airline. The Khomeini revolution paid lip service to that, and today Iranians mouth anti-Israeli sentiments that would make an Arab blush.

Turkey became the new Iran in Israeli strategic thinking.

Comments:

No Comments.

Login or Register to post comments

Recent on Worldview:

Opinion: Angola errs in ending presidential elections

Stephanie Hanson - Worldview - February 9, 2010 07:19 ET

Africa's biggest oil producer should strengthen, not weaken, its democracy.

Opinion: China contributes to Dalai Lama’s mystique

HDS Greenway - Worldview - February 8, 2010 11:05 ET

The more the Chinese threaten and scold, the more they promote the Dalai Lama's importance around the world.

Opinion: Sotheby's highlights economic disparity

Michael Goldfarb - Worldview - February 7, 2010 10:41 ET

Happy days are here again — for wealthy art collectors.

Opinion: The lessons of Yalta

Serhii Plokhii - Worldview - February 7, 2010 10:12 ET

What the Yalta Conference taught us in 1945, was to respect — and be wary of — ideological differences.

Opinion: Ukraine should turn west to move forward

Taras Kuzio - Worldview - February 6, 2010 12:14 ET

When Ukraine voters go to the polls on Sunday, they should stay true to the Orange Revolution.

Opinion: Africa needs free market economies

Marian Tupy - Worldview - February 6, 2010 11:51 ET

Gates money for vaccines will help Africa's children, but better economic policies will help them more.

Opinion: Africa needs free market economies

Marian Tupy - Worldview - February 6, 2010 11:51 ET

Gates money for vaccines will help Africa's children, but better economic policies will help them more.

Rainbow Planet: The worldwide struggle for gay rights

Andrew Meldrum - Worldview - February 5, 2010 12:21 ET

Information and narratives from 20 countries show the spectrum of the gay rights struggle.

Opinion: A globalization of the culture wars

Harvey Cox - Worldview - February 5, 2010 12:20 ET

Religious groups should lead the way of civil discourse and tolerance in gay rights debates.

Opinion: To struggle for gay rights is to struggle for all rights

Scott Long - Worldview - February 5, 2010 12:19 ET

Basic rights and freedoms are for all people.

Opinion: How did China get double-digit economic growth?

Joel Brinkley - Worldview - February 3, 2010 11:17 ET

By dealing with some of the world's most repugnant regimes. Iran is just the latest on a long, long list.

Analysis: Where gays do serve, openly, in the military

C.M. Sennott - Worldview - February 3, 2010 06:46 ET

Gays and lesbians are allowed to serve openly in the military in most Western countries.

Analysis: Taiwan says hello to arms

Jonathan Adams - China and its neighbors - February 2, 2010 14:56 ET

Taiwan asked for weapons from the US years ago, and most on the island back the deal.

Analysis: China's tougher than before

Kathleen E. McLaughlin - China and its neighbors - February 2, 2010 13:12 ET

Washington is hardening its stance, China is rising to the occasion and there's likely trouble down the line.

Opinion: "We’ve got your back, Balts"

Michael Moran - Worldview - February 1, 2010 10:32 ET

NATO, after year of tip-toeing, promises a plan to defend its small, eastern-most members.

Opinion: Bringing the Mideast to America

Matt Beynon Rees - Israel and Palestine - February 1, 2010 06:55 ET

Often a novelist can humanize foreign affairs in ways a journalist can't.

Opinion: Fatal flaw to peace package in Afghanistan

Nushin Arbabzadah - Worldview - January 31, 2010 14:32 ET

The peace package that emerged from London Conference is doomed to fail, unless Kabul can get a monopoly on violence.

Opinion: Tony Blair and the American connection

HDS Greenway - Worldview - January 31, 2010 14:20 ET

For half a century, British policy has been based on staying close to the Americans. Blair was no different.

Opinion: Haiti's recovery starts with human rights

Kerry Kennedy and Monika Kalra Varma - Worldview - January 31, 2010 10:10 ET

Haiti needs real change, not promises of aid that go unfulfilled.

Opinion: Uganda should consult Ghana on oil

Stephanie Hanson - Worldview - January 30, 2010 11:46 ET

Good planning and transparency should help population benefit from new find.