BY SAMI KOHEN
MILLIYET- Did Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s visit to Turkey earlier this week end Ankara’s aloof stance towards Israel? Did it really help both sides overcome their problems in bilateral relations?
Turkish and Israeli officials alike stated that Olmert’s visit had helped to reassure the continuity of warm and friendly relations between the two countries, as a forum for both sides to give each other clear messages on such sensitive issues as Israeli operations against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip earlier this year, operations branded by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdodan as ‘state terrorism.’
We can summarize the message given by the Turkish side as follows: The Middle East peace process is an important aspect of Turkish-Israeli relations. Turkish leaders’ criticisms of Israel should be interpreted as friendly comments, which must be carefully considered for the sake of peace and stability in the region. Turkey is ready to act as a ‘facilitator’ for the peace process.
For his part, Olmert stressed that Israel placed a high premium on Turkey’s role in the region. He also told the Turkish officials about the Sharon government’s fight against terrorism and its policy on withdrawing troops from the Gaza Strip. If Israel really draws back from the area and a new coalition government is formed, this will give a boost to peace efforts.
In fact, it isn’t the peace process that will determine the future course of Turkish-Israeli relations, but rather both sides’ northern Iraq policies. Rumors of Israeli involvement with the Kurds in northern Iraq, fueled by an article last month in the New Yorker, are believed to be the main factor that has led to strains in Turkish-Israeli ties. The article alleged that Israeli officers were training Kurdish commandos in northern Iraq and using the region as a jumping-off point for Mossad agents to enter Iran.
However, after Olmert’s visit, Israel now seems to understand Turkey’s concern on the issue, which is why he told the Turkish press that news reports about Israeli involvement in northern Iraq were simply not true. The Sharon government is now expected to take more sensitive steps on this issue and won’t let a new crisis erupt between the two countries.