By all accounts, the decision by Turkey to oust the Israel Air Force from joint military exercises involving the United States and NATO nations represents an elevated diplomatic row between Ankara and Jerusalem.

According to most, Israel and Turkey enjoyed a unique relationship, one that was perceived as mutually beneficial, but the unilateral statements released by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan following Operation Cast Lead brought this to an abrupt end.

During the previous administration of Ehud Olmert, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni worked to mend relations, which resulted in considerable success, or so Israel thought. Despite this, Turkey’s role as mediator between Jerusalem and Damascus has not resumed.

With the boycott behind us, Israelis were once again traveling to Turkey and administration officials were comfortable that the diplomatic confrontation resulting from Israel’s counter-terrorist offensive in Gaza was all but behind us. This can to a sudden halt when Erdogan announced Israel may not take part in the military exercise, which prompted a US response that without Israel, America cannot take part and other NATO nations will follow suit. The major international military maneuvers have been canceled as a result.

While Israel’s diplomatic leaders remained silent following the announced Turkish decision, Deputy Foreign Minister was a lone voice, one which acknowledged the vital strategic importance Turkey serves in the region, but warned Israel cannot permit herself to ignore this latest development and the government must demand a detailed policy statement, an understanding of just where Turkey stands vis-à-vis Israel today.

While there is an active crisis with Turkey, Jerusalem can chalk up a success since the move intended to isolate Israel elicited a pro-Israel response from the United States, and a cancelation of the military training exercise, which are extremely important to Turkey as well as Israel.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)