Turkey and its Normalization with the Israeli Occupation: Myth or Reality?

Feb 23, 2022 01:36 pm

The Republic of Turkey cut its diplomatic relations with the Israeli occupation in 2010 after its forces had attacked MV Mavi Marmara, which was carrying material aids and a number of Turkish citizens heading to Gaza. As a result, several citizens lost their lives.

The Turkish presidency described that as a violent act that led to the Israeli Ambassador's expulsion from Turkey. In 2016, they reunited; yet, that did not last for long as the Turkish government showed its support for the Palestinian people during the Great March of Return, which was issued at the end of March 2008 as well as when the U.S. Presidency decided to move its Embassy to Al-Quds. It expressed its serious resentment towards the way the Israeli occupation deals with the peaceful protestors along the borders between Gaza and the Palestinian occupied lands and translated this resentment diplomatically as it gave a speech stating that the Israeli Ambassador is not welcome in the county. As a result, he left Turkey and the Turkish Ambassador left the Israeli lands, increasing the tension between the two nations.

Reasons behind the Israeli-Turkish Convergence:

The Israeli occupation seeks to suffocate Turkey through supporting Greece in all aspects. During Donald Trump's time in office, it also worked on imposing an economic blockade over Turkey. Trump did achieve that, causing the Turkish lira to decrease and the Turkish exports to decline.

It also deliberately ignored Ankara through establishing the East Mediterranean Gas Forum, where Greece; Ankara's opponent, is a part of. That provoked Turkey as it was deprived of the East Mediterranean's gas and of its right to participating in determining the gas' policies within its regional and international dimensions, forcing Turkey to strengthen its relations with Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Bahrain.  The Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that there are similar strong steps Turkey will take with Egypt and Israel.

But, Is Erdogan serious about his intention towards Israel?

Similar to the U.S, Turkey adopts a policy of "brining interests and excluding vices." It gets close to whom they help it and excludes whoever endangers its interests; "Turkey, first and last." It has become clear that Turkey is rearranging its relations with Israel, as it depended on the culture and tourism as an entrance to reestablishing the relations with the occupation, deciding to open a cultural attaché in its Embassy in Tel Aviv in July 2021. Also President Erdogan phoned his counterpart; the recently-elected, Isaac Herzog for 40 minutes, as reported in the media, to be the first of its kind after many years. During the call, the two parties confirmed the continuation of their communication despite all the obstacles, while Herzog emphasized that this bilateral relation is important for the security and stability of the East Mediterranean.

This stems out from several reasons, most importantly:

Turkey is greedy about bringing the views closer together and enhancing its relations with the White House in Washington, which imposes economic sanctions over it, leading the Turkish lira to collapse. Washington also works on exempting Turkey out from the F-16 Warplanes Deal, preventing Turkey from becoming a strategic force in the region that can control some files other neighboring countries cannot have an access into without some factors, including:

  1. The strong relations with the United States. This emerges from Turkey's pursuit to achieving reconciliation with Egypt, Saudi Arabia and UAE, where the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met President Recep Erdogan.
  2. The existence of a military power that is superior to whoever surrounds it regionally.
  3. The existence of an economic power that is able to fund the military institute.
  4. The compatibility of relations and objectives between the countries seeking to have that power and the occupation's objectives towards the Arab nation generally and its country specifically.

The other factor may lie in the instability within the one defending Greece through establishing strong relations with the Israeli occupation. This will facilitate the maritime delimitation for the Turkish government, fearing the Greek government. Thus, the Israeli occupation gave a speech stating that the relations we intent to build with Turkey will not affect the relations between Israel and Greece.

Reaction of Turkish People

The Turkish people's reaction will not be as some persons imagine, as they are obedient and confident of their government. This will make the government able to deal with its people, who surely believe it will not lead them to the abyss.

People of the World and Turkish-Israeli Relations:

Turkey will not obtain a popularity outside its borders as much as what it will lose. It is considered as the first defender of the Palestinian rights and the Islamic holy places, decreasing the popularity of the Justice and Development Party, which supports the normalization of relations between Erdogan and the occupation.

The Impact of the Development in the Turkish-Israeli Relations on Hamas

The Turkish Republic follows the theory of Winston Churchill, the former prime minister of Britain, which says "in politics, there is not lasting friends, no lasting enemies, only lasting interests." Whoever was a friend yesterday will not last for too long and vice versa; so, Turkey will not hesitate to expel Hamas leaders from its lands when a real deal is signed. Turkey's containment of Hamas leaders impedes the improvement of relations between the two sides; this was clear when the direction of the deported Saleh Al-Arouri, deputy of Hamas, was sent to Lebanon instead of Turkey, where Hezbollah party exists in the southern suburb.

Turkey's Support for the Palestinians

We can say that the Turkish people does not lend so much importance for the material support for the Palestinian people. This was reflected during and after the last aggression on Gaza in May 2021, as it provided an assistance of no more than $50,000. Even though it deals with Palestine's issue with high sensitivity as it is the global defender of the Palestinian people; in case it normalized its relations with Israel, the Turkish door will not be open to receive the Palestinian injured any more. There will be a clear change in the Turkish policy over the Palestinians, and this what we observe now as the granting of visas from Gaza is suspended for the absence of a representative office that can collect the biometric data of the applicants.

Timing

The Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is getting ready for the most important Turkish elections along his political history. They will determine whether he will stay in government or will move to the invisible world seeking to undermine Turkey's stability and security. Erdogan is getting ready to welcome Isaac Herzog, the occupation's minister, in February 2022 to be an official beginning to the normalization of relations, which will not need to wait to the last quarter of the current year to be achieved.

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