The harsh statements by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to the effect that “Zionism is a crime against humanity” and the parallel he drew between Zionism and Fascism have sparked an international outcry. It has been pointed out in various quarters that such statements are liable to undermine the strenuous and relentless efforts to bring about reconciliation between Jerusalem and Ankara.
However, in my opinion, it is the persistent refusal of Israel to comply with the threshold conditions set by Turkey for the normalization of relations between the two countries that provokes such statements on the part of Erdoğan, and I believe that more than anything else, they reflect his deep frustration. Turkey severed practically all ties with Israel following the Israeli raid on the Turkish [Mavi Marmara, 2010] flotilla to Gaza, in the course of which nine Turkish citizens were killed. Turkey demanded a public apology on the part of Israel as one of the conditions for the revival of relations between the two countries, but Israel declined to meet the terms.
Once the Israeli government comes to its senses and decides to settle its affairs with Turkey, it will find that while Turkey is still insisting, as firmly as ever, on the conditions it set at the time for reconciliation between the two countries, conditions in Turkey itself have changed since. Jerusalem will then have to come to grips with the fact that it is another Turkey it has to deal with.
One of the first objectives of the new government to be set up in Jerusalem would thus be the restoration of diplomatic relations with Ankara. As a matter of fact, although the Israeli ambassador was expelled from Turkey over a year ago [in September 2011] and the diplomatic corps at the Turkish Embassy in Tel Aviv was cut to the bare minimum, the diplomatic channel between the two countries is still open and active. Every few months, envoys on behalf of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meet with Undersecretary of the Turkish Foreign Ministry Feridun Sinirlioğlu, who has been appointed by Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu to manage the contacts with the Israeli emissaries, and the two sides discuss the possible normalization of relations. So far, these discussions, including the last round of talks held in Rome in late January, have failed to pave the way for the sought-after reconciliation.
AL-MONITOR All-Access gives you unlimited access to all our journalism, the full Daily Briefing, exclusive interviews, premium newsletters, and live events — for less than $2/week.
