Yigal Schleifer
With flotilla deaths, Turkey may be near tipping point
ISTANBUL – While Turkey and Israel have seen their once-close relationship deteriorate steadily for the past few years, the Israeli commando raid of a Turkish-led flotilla heading for Gaza, in which several Turks were killed, marks a dangerous new low in the two countries’ relations.
“Turkey is now involved in a way it’s never been before: Blood has been spilled,” said Hugh Pope, a Turkey analyst with the International Crisis Group, a Brussels-based policy and advocacy organization.
Following Monday’s raid, massive street protests broke out in Turkey, and the country recalled its ambassador from Israel and summoned Israel’s ambassador to Ankara.
Does anger over Gaza threaten Turkey-Israel ties?
ISTANBUL, Turkey – Turkey’s decision to indefinitely postpone a military exercise, apparently due to Israel’s planned involvement, is raising concerns that Turkish-Israeli ties have not recovered from the Gaza war in January.
The exercise — an air force program known as Anatolian Eagle — had been scheduled for this week and was supposed to include Israel along with the United States, Italy, and other NATO countries. The other participating countries reportedly pulled out of the exercise after learning of Israel’s exclusion.
Turkey has tried to downplay the episode.
