Turkey, Israel need to de-escalate tension, says Mideast expert

Restoring Israeli-Turkish relations as soon as possible should be the number-one agenda item, according to a senior expert on Middle East politics and affairs who specializes in peace negotiations between Israel and the Arab states.

“I am praying and hoping that wisdom will prevail. The focus must be to de-escalate the tension,” Professor Alon Ben-Meir said this week at an Ankara-based think tank known by its Turkish acronym, USAK.

On Monday, Israel’s deputy foreign minister, Danny Ayalon, summoned the Turkish ambassador to complain about a TV series. The envoy was forced to sit on a low sofa without receiving a handshake and there was no Turkish flag in the room.

Outraged, Turkey threatened to recall its ambassador, but Israel sent a formal apology letter late Wednesday that was found satisfactory.

“The Israeli treatment of the Turkish ambassador is an extraordinary disrespect to the Turkish government regardless of what [Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip] Erdoğan said,” Ben-Meir said in response to a question from the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review. “That cannot be rectified with a bigger mistake. It does not justify Israel taking that kind of action to humiliate the Turkish government.”

Israel’s undiplomatic treatment came after Erdoğan lashed out at Israel at a joint press conference Monday with the Lebanese prime minister, criticizing the disproportionate use of force by the Israelis and the recent attack into Gaza.

Ben-Meir also expressed concerns about the Turkish prime minister’s attitude and his ongoing criticism of Israel: “He thinks it is working for Turkey now. My concern is whether it is going to work for long, [even] if it works now. Turkish-Israeli relations are even more important if Turkey wants to play a more constructive role in the region.”

“Turkey is a significant player and can fulfill its important mission if relations are restored with Israel. You cannot reach an agreement with Iran, Syria or Palestinians without Israel,” he added. “This is not a favor for Turkey or Israel. This is a regional requirement.”

According to Ben-Meir, Erdoğan has been championing the Palestinian cause while mobilizing support from the Arab world with his ongoing criticism of Israel. “He never misses an opportunity to lash out at Israel,” the professor said. “He chooses selectively. You cannot be selective when you make a public declaration,” he added, referring to Erdoğan’s criticism of Israeli retaliation to a rocket recently fired by Hamas.

Still, Ben-Meir emphasized, the Israeli treatment of the Turkish ambassador was “completely out of line.”

The academic has authored six books related to Middle East policy and is currently working on one about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He has been directly involved in various negotiations and has operated as a liaison between top Arab and Israeli officials.

‘Israeli FM created a commotion’

Ben-Meir expressed his hope that Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak’s visit would not be postponed after the latest skirmish. “Barak is committed to peace and a close friend of Turkey. His visit will be very important,” he said. “Let’s hope this visit is not interrupted.”

The Israeli government is divided over its relationship with Turkey. The Labor Party camp led by Defense Minister Barak, set to pay a one-day visit to Turkey on Sunday, favors mending ties, while Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman adopts a more hawkish attitude.

“Barak will not come here without the support of the [Israeli] prime minister. What the foreign minister did has done terrible damage, but he is not the one to determine this visit. He created a commotion. [The visit] is in the hands of the prime minister, not Lieberman,” Ben-Meir said when asked about claims made in the Israeli media that the recent tension was intentionally provoked by Lieberman to sabotage Barak’s trip to Ankara.

“I am praying, I am hoping that both sides [Turkey and Israel] will pursue a proper diplomatic path, not governed by emotions,” said Ben-Meir. “Both should begin a process of keeping things quiet. That’s in the best interest of the two parties. They hold the key to future stability in the region. They need each other.”