We should have seen it coming. Turkey under Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan decided to throw in with the despots of Iran and the terrorists of Hamas long before the phony "Peace Flotilla" tried to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza this week. Even in April Erdogan was describing Israel as the "main threat to Middle Eastern peace."
Today, Erdogan is quite plain. Israeli, he says, is guilty of "inhuman state terror", while Hamas is "fighting for their own lands."
What lies behind the change? It wasn't something Israel did to Turkey, and it was not the reckless near-decision of the US Congress last winter to denounce as "genocide" the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Armenians in Turkey in World War I. Hostility to Israel and irritation with America has been building almost since Erdogan's AKP took power. It is beginning to look as if his critics were right about his true aims.
For years Israelis treasured vacation trips to friendly Turkey; few feel comfortable going there any more. There are direct flights from Istanbul to Tel Aviv. One wonders how long they will continue.
Anti-Americanism is the next tightening ratchet in the radicalization of Turkey. Erdogan, under the banner of moderate Islam, once seemed to be taking Turkey in the direction of religious liberty and free markets, but he now is moving against press freedom and shows little interest in ties to America. (If he is promoting serious religious freedom, that isn't obvious.)
It must be considered that Turkey next could decide to become a hero to the Arabs by leading a more direct effort against the Gaza blockade--in the name of "humanitarian aid." But the Israelis' blockade in no way prevents genuine humanitarian aid from getting through to Gaza. Arms shipments are the concern, and a legitimate one.
I wish it were otherwise (I like the Turks), but at this point there is little point in discussing the facts on the ground with the AKP. Ankara's new strategic ambitions seem to be engaged and will guide all interpretations.
The US has mismanaged its relationship with Turkey at certain times over the years. Now it's the Turks' turn to spoil a good thing.
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