EDITORIAL: Sinking Traditional Relations: Rhetoric or Reality?

By Antonia Dimou, Editor of Middle East Observer, Head of Middle East and Persian Gulf Unit, Defense and Security Analysis Institute, Athens

The May 31st raid by Israeli commandos on a Turkish-led flotilla bound for Gaza with the aim to get around the Israeli blockade and deliver humanitarian aid as well as to pressure the international community to review its sanction’s policy has marked a turning point in the course of Turkey-Israel relations. Not least, the event is expected to have catalytic impact on the regional balance of power, as according to cetrain political circles, Turkey’s shooting into an Islamic orbit reshuffles the deck of political and diplomatic cards in the region and creates an opening for certain strategic rearrangements.

Only a decade ago, Turkey was considered Israel’s major Muslim ally in the region. The two countries commenced a multi-level relationship that included military and intelligence cooperation, exchange of technological and technical know-how in industry and agriculture, the securing of financial credits for Turkey, and academic cooperation. Relations began to deteriorate publicly in 2009 when Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan sparred with Israel’s President, Shimon Peres, at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

The flotilla event worsened Turkey-Israel relations to unprecedented levels and it is not believed to be coincidental. Rather it was a calculated move aimed to secure Turkey gains both domestically and regionally. Domestically, “Israel punching” is the most profitable political move in a country where anti-Israel sentiments are high. Regionally, Turkey’s revised foreign policy outlook is well known and comes from current Foreign Minister Ahmed Davutoglu. In his view, Turkey’s location at the center of what he calls the Afro-Eurasian space enables it to rise to the status of a “center power” for the whole region. By eliminating conflicts with its neighbors at the level of zero problems, Turkey will be able to consolidate its regional leadership and play a key global role in the post-Cold war regional environment.

The flotilla event has actually made the world pay close attention to Turkey which through a combination of economic successes and Islamic leadership is trying to evolve to the level of the “center power” that bridges the Middle East with the West. Not least, the flotilla event has made the world pay close attention to the Israeli blockade on Gaza and underscored the necessity for all sides involved to walk on the path of Israeli-Palestinian coordination and dialogue in a way so that any emerging Palestinian state does not become a failed state.

In the current issue of the MEO our contributors represent each country that directly or indirectly was involved in the political and diplomatic handling of the crisis. They have articulated their views professionally on the impact and the lessons learnt from the Freedom Flotilla. The MEO is honored to have a Statement by HRH Prince El Hassan Bin Talal who served as Crown Prince of Jordan from 1965 till 1999 and whose initiatives have been catalytic to international decisions and resolutions. HRH very accurately underlines that the freedom flotilla has developed a new dimension to the Israeli siege on Gaza, and stresses that “the Near East, once known as the Cradle of Civilisation, has become a tinder box of war; but in losing sight of peace and humanitarian law, we are surrendering one-by-one to the crushing power of the opportunist 'hatred industry'”.

We could not agree more.

Middle East Observer, Issue #3, Vol. 1, June-August 2010