"The important thing is that people see that he's low and we're high and that there is one flag here."
Just in case there was any confusion over Israel's attitude toward Turkey, likely its closest regional military ally, Israeli deputy foreign minister Danny Ayalon removed any lingering doubts. The above quote from Ayalon was directed at Israeli media gathered in his office to witness him give the Turkish ambassador to Israel a verbal dressing down in protest over a Turkish TV show to which the Israelis objected .
The row started after Israel protested a TV show which depicted Israeli agents holding a Palestinian woman and child hostage (not that anything THAT horrible ever happens in the occupied territories...). It appears that this was the proverbial straw that broke the (Israeli) camel's back - Israel seems to have had enough of Turkey or any other regional neighbour forgetting who rules the roost in the Middle East. As a client state of an ever-weakening super-power, it is understandable that Israel would reveal its growing insecurity by flexing its muscles. Classic bully psychology.
It is important to appreciate how close Israeli-Turkish ties have historically been - joint Israeli-Turkish military exercises used to be routine. The times, however, they are a' changin. In October of last year, Turkey barred Israel from participating in joint NATO exercises in Turkey to protest the Israeli attack on Gaza. Perhaps it is a barometer of just how far Turkey has come from under the thumb of the Kemalist military that these relations are finally beginning to reflect Turkey's shared concern for the plight of their brothers and sisters in Palestine. This was most famously reinforced by Tayyip Erdogan's angry walkout at last year's Davos Summit.
Erdogan followed up with similar comments this week, stating “[The Israelis] have disproportionate capabilities and power and they use them. ... They do not abide by UN resolutions. ... They say they will do what they like.”
Israel seems to have realized that it can no longer walk loudly AND carry a big stick. After issuing a lukewarm apology, it was forced to try again - with feeling - after Turkey deemed its initial expressions of regret inadequate.
As the sun sets on the American Century, it will be instructive to watch how the relationships between America's colony in the Middle East and its neighbours evolve. In the case of Turkey, it remains a pleasure to see the unshackling of its Muslim roots being reflected in its foreign policy. While the Muslim world continues to suffer under the legacy of the desperate attempts of its rulers to modernize through secularism and autocracy, it is still encouraging to see that the desire for freedom to not only shop and consume but also to worship Allah without state interference continues to grow. Let us remember that the true Islamic revival is not just the emergence of the Muslim consumer a la Dubai, but of the rebirth of a Muslim society in which manners and relationships are once more guided and inspired by the noble example of our beloved Prophet (saw). The concern of Turks for Arabs reminds one of the true nature of the Muslim ummah:
"The believers are like a single man; if his eye is in pain, his whole body pains, and if his head is in pain, his whole body pains" (Muslim)
Muhammad Tahir
