Tantrum in Turkey. Ann Landers used to pose the question to women doubtful of long-term commitments: “Am I better off with him or without him?” With regard to Turkey under Erdogan, Israel’s answer to this question ever more open to debate. If nothing else, their relationship is no longer a friendship, or a partnership, but a matter of managing Ankara’s posturing and brinksmanship, and its Islamization. Turkey is a “frenemy,” at best.
And for that matter, the European Union should be asking itself that same question about Turkey. “Turkey expels Israeli ambassador,” from YNet News, September 2:
Israel-Turkey relations sink to a new low: Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet DavutoÄŸlu announced on Friday that following Jerusalem’s adamant refusal to apologize over the 2010 Gaza flotilla raid, Ankara will be downgrading its diplomatic relations with Israel and suspending key military agreements.
In a dramatic turn of events, Turkey announced that it was expelling Israeli Ambassador Gabby Levy from Ankara. Davutoglu said Turkey’s diplomatic representation in Israel would be further reduced to second-secretary level. In accordance, all lower Israeli diplomatic personnel above the second-secretary level have also been expelled.
The announcement followed a press conference, in which Davutoglu said that some of the UN’s Palmer Report findings on the raid were “unacceptable,” adding that it was “time for Israel to pay the price… The highest price it can pay is losing our friendship.”
“Today, we reached a point where Israel has, in fact, spent all of the chances that were given to them. The Israeli government, on the other hand, see themselves (as being) above international laws and human conscience,” the Turkish FM said.
Turkey withdrew its own ambassador to Israel immediately after last year’s raid.
DavutoÄŸlu’s stated that Ankara views the Israeli government as responsible for the situation, and that Turkey will not revise its position on the matter until Israel reconsiders its stand on the flotilla incident. DavutoÄŸlu added that despite the Palmer Report findings, Turkey does not recognise the legality of the Israeli blockade on Gaza.
Turkish President Abdullah Gul reportedly said Friday that as far as Turkey was concerned, the Palmer Report was “null and void.” Ankara is also said to be exploring its options against Israel with the International Court of Justice.
Earlier Friday, Turkey vowed that its demand for an apology from Israel would remain unchanged, stating that it is powerful enough to protect the rights of its citizen. The statement was made in Ankara’s first official reaction to a leaked United Nations panel report on the Mavi Marmara incident….