Experts: No quick return to 'golden era' of Turk-Israeli ties

Panelists debated the relations at a roundtable discussion hosted by Turkish Policy Quarterly and Konrad Adenauer Stiftung.

Guest speakers from Israeli academia as well as Turkish journalists and intellectuals expressed their analysis of the situation and their concerns and prognosis for the future of Turkey-Israel relations.

Although the stance of the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, was emphasized as a key factor in worsened relation between the two countries, growing nationalism and suspicion of “the other” increasing to “the level of paranoia” have greatly contributed to the current tensions, according to one of the speakers.

The participants agreed that Turkish-Israeli relations have been based on mutual interests rather than friendship between the societies.

The panelists admitted that they are not particularly hopeful for an improvement in relations in the near future, citing the fact that domestic voting concerns means the AKP is likely to continue bashing Israel and appeal to Muslim unity.

The speakers said they had earlier predicted a redefinition of Turkish-Israeli relations due to a changing international situation, along with the growing ambitions and capabilities of Ankara.

Nonetheless, they said a Turkish government more devoted to “secularist values” would probably have handled the transformation in a different, more moderate manner.

Participants disagreed, however, on the level of the AKP’s anti-Semitism, as some argued the government was merely leveling harsh criticisms at the state of Israel while others said the party’s comments bear undertones of anti-Semitism.


/Hurriyet Daily News/