Global General

Ties with Israel may outlast Turkish anger at raid

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-06-02 09:47

ANKARA - Israel's deadly raid on a Gaza-bound aid ship has ignited unprecedented anger in Turkey and driven the Jewish state's relations with its most important Muslim ally to their lowest point in six decades.

Demonstrators shout slogans and wave Palestinian flags as they are surrounded by riot police during a protest against Israel in front of the residence of Israeli Ambassador to Turkey, Gabby Levy, in Ankara June 1, 2010. Israeli marines stormed a Turkish aid ship bound for Gaza on Monday and at least nine pro-Palestinian activists were killed, triggering a diplomatic crisis. [Agencies]

There are signs, however, that the countries' long-term strategic alliance and military ties will endure.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan furiously told parliament Tuesday that the "bloody massacre" of at least four Turkish activists among nine passengers slain by Israeli naval commandos was a turning point in the long-standing alliance.

Related readings:  Israel admits blunders in bungled boarding  Israel, Egypt ease Gaza blockade after deadly raid  China urges Israel to break blockade on Gaza  Israel processes Gaza activists, UN urges inquiry

"Nothing will be the same again," Erdogan said, gesturing angrily, his voice shaking at times.

Thousands of Turks staged protests across the country and pockets of demonstrators shouted "Down with Israel!" near the Israeli ambassador's residence - an unusual sight in one of the capital's richest districts.

The pro-Islamic newspaper Yeni Safak described the Israeli troops as "The children of Hitler" in a banner headline.

But other officials were delivering messages of restraint and Turkey said it was not canceling plans to accept $183 million (euro150.56 million) worth of Israeli drone planes this summer.

"We will find a solution within law and diplomacy," Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said Monday. "No one should expect us to declare war on Israel over this."

Turkey's eight-year-old Islamic-rooted government has publicly and frequently expressed outrage over Israel's 2008-2009 war in Gaza and continuing blockade of the strip. But Turkey's deeply secular military remains heavily dependent on high-tech Israeli arms in its battle against Kurdish separatist guerrillas based along Turkey's mountainous southeastern border with Iraq.

Israel's right-leaning government said that the countries' defense ministers had agreed hours after the raid that the incident wouldn't affect Israeli weapons sales to Turkey.

The massive Heron drones to be delivered this summer can fly at least 20 hours nonstop and first saw action against Hamas militants in the Gaza war. Turkey hopes they can gather crucial intelligence on Kurdish rebels and allow pinpoint strikes at a time of escalating insurgent attacks. Israel also recently completed a more than $1 billion upgrade of Turkey's aging tank fleet and U.S.-made F-4 warplanes. Turkey has opened its airspace to Israeli pilots for training purposes.

"There are still common interests, common needs," said Ofra Bengio, a professor of Middle Eastern history at Tel Aviv University's Dayan Center. "For the time being, we're in the middle of a crisis ... but governments change."

Erdogan met with the military's second-ranking general, the defense minister and national intelligence chief minutes before his speech to parliament. Although Turkey has scrapped three joint army and navy exercises and pulled its ambassador to Israel, Erdogan's heated address shied away from proclaiming a broader change in policy.

"From now on, it is no longer possible to turn a blind eye on the lawless behavior of the current Israeli government," he said.

Turkey called for emergency meetings of the United Nations Security Council and NATO to condemn the killings. But its representative to NATO did not demand that the alliance take collective action against Israel, according to a diplomat who attended the talks. The official asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter.

"The relations are based on mutual trust and I don't think they are permanently damaged," said Mahfi Egilmez, an analyst with NTV television. "The relations can improve when there is a new government in Israel or when the Gaza conflict is solved."

Turkey, which welcomed Jews fleeing Nazi persecution during World War II, was among the first Muslim countries to recognize Israel in 1948. The two countries grew closer after signing military cooperation agreements in 1996.