So much for a “principled policy” for Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s stand against the Jewish state! Ankara decided on Friday, Dec. 21 to step back from its opposition to cooperation between NATO and Israel.

While Turkey’s decision was unexpected, given the Erdogan government’s strong reaction to Israel’s latest Gaza offensive, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu’s tear-shedding photos from his visit to Gaza and Turkish President Abdullah Gul’s recent reception of Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in Ankara with full honors accorded to a head of state, Ankara’s decision to concede to Israel at this time is a testament that Turkey is really not a play-maker in the region, as its overconfident policy rhetoric suggests.

It was only in May that Turkey blocked Israel’s participation in NATO’s Chicago summit and prevented the Israeli navy from participating in NATO operations. Davutoglu said then that it was not possible for Turkey “to be a partner in any activity with Israel not only in NATO, but in all international institutions and organizations.”

Turkey still publicly insists that Israel apologize and pay compensation for the killing of nine Turks off the coast of Gaza. Ankara also demands that Israel end the Gaza blockade.