You all heard the story: the Israelis got pissed-off at Turkey for showing a TV show which they don’t like, they decided to humiliate the Turkish envoy to Israel with some totally immature antics (sitting him on a lower chair, only putting a little Israeli flag on the table and by, quote, “not smiling” – at least on camera).
This time, the customary arrogance of the “Jewish state” ended up backfiring badly when the Turks decided not to take that crap and demanded not one, but TWO apologies form a state which is only used to disdainfully accepting all kinds of apologies, but never presenting one
Worse, the Turks actually gave a public ultimatum with an equally public deadline “or else”. And the Israelis blinked and rolled over. I can just imagine the terrible anguish that the expert practitioner of “chutzpah” which pass for “diplomats” in the “Jewish state” must have felt when they had publicly present their apologies.
What a fantastic admission of weakness too. If Turkey can humiliate the Ueber-arrogant Israelis, just imagine what a determined major power could do to it!
Whatever one might think of the Turkish government – and I sure am not fan of it at all – it has to be said that Ankara handled this situation brilliantly.
The smackdown of the arrogant bastards who run the “Jewish state” is a fantastic PR success for the Turkish government. In the past, the Turks have already bullied Syrian into submission (with threats over the PKK), and now they succeeded in bullying the Israelis. The only ones who actually forced the Turks to back down, though not too publicly, where the Russians (who clearly indicated to the Turks that any further intervention in the Caucasus or the Black Sea would be met with force if needed).
I strongly believe that Israel far from being strong, is really an extremely weak state which is hiding this weakness under an external appearance of arrogance and constant sabre-rattling. But look at the fact: the Israeli lost ALL their wars since 1973 – they could not even beat Hamas in Gaza, nevermind Hezbollah in Lebanon – and they are the most unanimously hated nation on earth surviving only by the ruthless exploitation of the USA by the Israel Lobby.
By smacking down the Israelis the Turks have essentially declared “the Emperor has no clothes!”. Hopefully, everybody else will now come out of their stupor and follow suit.
The Saker
Isn’t the Turkish record of atrocities against the Kurds just as bad if not worse than Israel against Palestinians?
@Robert: it might well be. and the Turks committed a genocide against the Armenians, and a quasi-genocide with the Serbs on several occasions, and they brutally oppressed the Greeks and they invaded Cyprus and still hold it. I am in no way, NO WAY AT ALL, an apologist for the Turks. All I am saying is that IN THIS INSTANCE they did a very smart thing to smackdown the zionist crazies. that’s all.
The other thing is that the current “Islamist” government, so deeply hated by the neocons, has eliminated the death penalty, moved closer to peace with their Kurdish population than any government, made moves towards normalization of relations with Armenia, exposed torture buy the security services.
Nowheres near perfect, of course, but it has done more to bring Turkey towards a decent standard in human rights than anyone in the past.
And yet, because it is not as supportive of Israel as the previous quasi-military governments, it is hated. Some neocons (Google Caroline Glick) , while crying crocodile tears over Iran, can’t even hide their desire for another coup in Turkey.
@Lysander: but are the steps you mention not the result of conditions set by the EU for the acceptance of Turkey? And that makes me wonder what will happen in Cyprus…
True enough. I’m no Turkey expert, but I believe that Turkey has wanted to join the EU for a very long time now. And I also believe that those conditions to admittance have long been required by the Euros. So Why has Turkey only started meeting them now? Why not 20 years ago?
My understanding, and I could be mistaken, is that the military has been less enthusiastic about joining the EU than the rest of the country.
Also, If Turkey’s absolute priority was admission to the EU, they would back down in the face of every Israeli demand. Isn’t that what everybody in Europe does?
Now I don’t want to be a Turkey cheer leader. But if the current government is moving Turkey away from its worst abuses, I say all the better. Indeed I wish every country tried to make such improvements, even if motivated by enlightened self interest.
@Lysander: I have to admit that my view of Turkey is fully “external”, meaning that I see what it does but I have no understanding whatsoever of the internal mechanisms of the Turkish “deep” and “shallow” state(s). I wish the Turkish and Kurdish readers of this blog (there are both) would comment on these topics as my rather limited knowledge of these topics is really inadequate.
@Robert, very good point indeed and Israel brings this up every time Turkey says something about Palestinians. They tell Turkey “who are you to lecture us on morals?”.
@Lysander, your assessment that the military and its civilian circles are not very supportive of EU accession process is true.
Now to all of you. Have you ever heard of good cop, bad cop play? You must have. This is what Turkey and Israel are playing right now. The Arabs are the detainee that’s being interrogated. Details follow…
1. Turkey’s current government is trying to revive the new Ottoman Empire. The whole strategy is built around that goal.
2. Israel and Turkey in Jerry Springer is all show. If there was any substance to it, Turkey and Israel wouldn’t announce that their trade will continue (most of which is arms) at full speed. Does that really make sense? I don’t think Israel is THAT desperate for a few million dollars. Israel could stop its support for Turkey bombing Kurds.
3. Turkey’s economy has been dependent on external investments. They need more of oil money (especially from Arabic countries). So, using Islam as a common ground and going on Jerry Springer show with Israel is something everyone seems to be eating up. Really smart politics.
4. Turkey needs the Kurdish/Iraqi oil. The bosses want Kurdistan (all parts) to be “integrated into world’s economy”. I think you know what that means. The only way to do that is to somehow neutralize Kurds and gain their support and also that of Arabs. Turkey is not trying to solve it’s Kurdish problem, it’s trying to weaken it.
So, the people of middle east are presented with two choices. Good cop or bad cop.
Which one do YOU think is better?
~NYmouse
@NYMouse: sure looks like the two cops are friends again:
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4455477&c=MID&s=AIR
Thanks for the interesting comment!
NYmouse,
Thanx, that’s a very good assessment. Nothing is ever as it seems.
I had thought that the Iraq invasion and the creation of a defacto Kurdistan was viewed as entirely contrary to Turkish interests (this is not to deny Kurdish rights.) Hence the reduced priority Turkey gives to its relations with Israel.
Also, much has been made in the Israeli press of Ahmadinejad’s visit to Turkey and ERdogans visit to Iran. Deals about trade and pipelines seemed like a real blossoming of Iran-Turkey relations.
IIRC, Ahmadinejad planned to visit Turkey in early 2006 but the Israelis warned Turkey against that and so he never did. Now the warnings were ignored.
Looking at it from Turkey’s best interests, very good relations with Iran are very much to her advantage. A source of energy for a growing economy, a market for trade and common interests in Kurdistan. Simultaneously, there are no border disputes or history of recent wars.
While Turkey has an interest in decent relations with Israel, they really need not be thick as thieves. Also I believe Israel needs Turkey far more than the other way around. And the Turks know it.
Still, this is not to make too much of the minor breach. Maybe it is just good cop/bad cop. We will have to wait and see in the next few years what happens.
Lysander, “I had thought that the Iraq invasion and the creation of a defacto Kurdistan was viewed as entirely contrary to Turkish interests (this is not to deny Kurdish rights.) Hence the reduced priority Turkey gives to its relations with Israel.”
Yes, but the big brother and Europe convinced Turkey of their plans: the oil must flow one way or another. Besides what better way is there for everyone of those states than to fatten up the Southern Kurds, make them dependent on the money from oil and then use them to sabotage or even weaken Kurdish struggle? “Everyone” wins but the Kurds.
You are also correct that Israel needs Turkey more than Turkey needs Israel but make no mistake. Israel’s closest ally is really the Turkish military. Israel could, at the moment, derail any government in Turkey. Another thing to keep in mind is that Turkey would not want Israel to go down as this would strengthen Arabs’ hands in the Middle East. Turks despise Arabs because Arabs chose to part from the Ottoman Empire and went their own way.
Turkey is learning to be smart with its politics, no doubt there. Until now it was just a hitman for the big brother but now it’s gotten a promotion. Now Turkey is the right hand man in middle east.
Turkey had to meet Ahmedi Nejad. When Iran gets upset, it cuts off the natural gas and Western Turkey freezes in the winter. Besides, they act together to suppress Kurds and they need to make sure no part of Kurdistan becomes strong. Have you heard Israel or US say one single word about Iran and Turkey conducting joint military operations against Kurds? Military cooperation is far more serious than a diplomatic visit by Ahmedi Nejad.
While politics may change over time, the “globalized” economy pretty much hints that Turkey is the “butler” now.
I also want to say this: what goes around comes around. One has to remember how Turkey treated Jalal Talabani when he visited Turkey as President of Iraq.
As crude as this may sound, to me it’s a staged fight between two thieves. Rest of the gang is busy emptying the pockets of the audience.
I wish time will prove me wrong and Turkey is really maturing but I don’t trust the Turkish state due to its very nature and the “traditions” its based on. The frog always gets stung once the river is crossed.
NYmouse
Definitely food for thought. Thanks, NYmouse. I hope you can keep us informed.