By Semih Idiz
Evidence is mounting that Turkey and Israel are seeking a way out of the morass their previously good ties have fallen into. Given the hard-line nature of the governments in both countries, there should be no effort made under normal circumstances to try and improve these ties.

After all there is a pro-Islamist government on the one side – which is openly sympathetic to Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran – and a government comprising fundamentalist Jews on the other, whose vision is impaired not just by dreams of a “greater Israel” but also by all that religious fundamentalism generally entails.

It is clear, therefore, that if left to their own resources, these ties would have to wait a long time before they got better. The indications are, however, that the ErdoÄŸan and Netanyahu governments are trying now to somehow turn over this bad page, even if it means swallowing some pride and arriving at certain compromises.

It seems that, hate each other as they may, both governments have come around to understanding that Turkish-Israeli ties have a significance way beyond their immediate limits. In other words, it matters if these relations are good or bad for the region, for the world and for the ties Turkey and Israel enjoy with other countries.

Responsible politicians who acknowledge some of the ‘ugly realities’ of the world usually have less room to maneuver in, regardless of what their emotions or ‘visions” may dictate to them.

This is probably what is forcing Foreign Minister DavutoÄŸlu now into using more conciliatory language about Israel, even if he is still insists on an apology and compensation for the victims of the Israeli raid on the Mavi Marmara.

‘We have the intention of making peace with Israel,’ Davutoğlu was reported by agencies as telling reporters in Istanbul over the weekend. “We are for peace with all countries. Why should we want bad relations with a country with whom we are trying to broker peace?" he said, referring to Ankara’s failed attempt to mediate discussions between Israel and Syria in 2008.

Davutoğlu also had some uncharacteristic remarks about Iran, which were no doubt noted, not just in Washington but also in Tel Aviv. He said Turkey was categorically against Iran acquiring nuclear weapons, adding that Ankara merely wanted to underline countries’ rights, including Turkey, to peaceful nuclear energy.

Davutoğlu said Turkey would never agree to Iran acquiring nuclear weapons outside the Non-Proliferation Treaty, or NPT, system. “We are telling Iran that if you seek to do so, we, before the United States, would oppose it,” he was reported by The Associated Press as saying.

Prime Minister Netanyahu, for his part, also appears to be trying to take advantage of the conciliatory actions coming out of Ankara, such as the dispatching of fire fighting planes to Israel recently and remarks from members of the Erdoğan government, such as Davutoğlu’s words quoted above.

Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Andy David was quoted by the Israeli media as saying that they are currently maintaining discreet talks with Turkey.

‘The two countries need to get back on track, need to get back their diplomatic relations as they were before, to be friendly, and I believe that that is not far,’ he said.

There is talk among diplomats in Ankara that the two countries are actually working on a formula whereby Israel can apologize and pay compensation to the victims of the Mavi Marmara incident in such a way that both countries can save face.

The serious problem for the Israeli side, however, is Avigdor Lieberman, who heads the fundamentalist wing of Netanyahu’s right wing government and appears determined to be a total spoiler of any rapprochement between the two countries.

Lieberman has defended his radical comments on Turkey by arguing that he has a right to his own opinions, and saying that it is Ankara that should apologize to Israel over the Mavi Marmara incident, referring to the Turkish demand for an apology and compensation as “beyond chutzpa.”

The problem that Lieberman poses for his government was, however, highlighted almost immediately when the prime minister’s office released a statement underscoring the fact that only Prime Minister Netanyahu speaks for the government.

"The foreign minister’s words reflect his understandings and personal opinions, as the various ministers in the government differ in opinion from one another," the statement said. ‘The government’s position is only the one expressed by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.’

The diplomatic as well as political liability that Lieberman poses for his government was further demonstrated when opposition Kadima Party leader Tzipi Livni, a former foreign minister herself, jumped into the fray. During an interview with the Israeli Army Radio Livni said Lieberman’s harsh criticism of Turkey exposed a serious problem with Netanyahu’s stance on the issue and that Israel deserves a braver leader.

Livni also indicated that the claim that Lieberman does not represent the government’s position is not correct because Prime Minister Netanyahu is responsible for his foreign minister. These exchanges on the Israel side demonstrate sufficiently where a major stumbling block in front of efforts to improve ties between the two countries lies.

The irony is that the stumbling block in this case should be no less a person than the foreign minister whose ministry’s job, by its very nature, should be to try and improve ties with other countries and not dynamite them, thus making matters worse than they already are. It is clear, however, that Lieberman has domestic political scores to settle, which is motivating his actions.

In the meantime, Prime Minister ErdoÄŸan has noticeably toned down his anti-Israeli rhetoric of late, which is no doubt an indirect acknowledgment of the fact that he understands the big bad world out there does not revolve around his personal sentiments.

But it seems like this realization is going to take a bid longer to emerge on the Israel side as long as the likes of Lieberman hold a spanner that they can throw into the works at anytime. This having been said, it is still noteworthy that the two countries are working discreetly to solve their differences, and this is good news in itself, regardless of the ‘Lieberman factor.’