Alright, I couldn’t complete the alliterative headline. But, I got close.
The year-long feud between Israel and Turkey spiked once more after months of quiet signalling potential repairs in the relationship.
Speaking alongside Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan lambasted the Israeli government for violating Lebanese airspace and water. Earlier this year, Erdogan and Israeli President Shimon Peres sparred over Operation Cast Lead, with the Turkish leader attempting to lecture on human rights violations during the offensive.
Erdogan also levied two other accusations against Israel for failing to admit the existence of nuclear weapons in the country and renewing aerial strikes on the Gaza Strip this past weekend. Israel defends its actions, citing increased rocket fire from Gaza into southern Israel.
In retaliation, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said the Turkish government “has no right to preach morality” and lambasted the Turkish ambassador to Israel for the depiction of IDF officers and Israelis in a series of television programs. In a rather curt exchange, Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon refused to shake the Turkish ambassador’s hand and said “we just want it to be seen that he is seated below us and that there is only one flag here.”
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman also attempted to use his clout by trying to persuade Defense Minister Ehud Barak to cancel a reconciliation trip Turkey.
Meanwhile, Erdogan won the 2010 King Faisal International Prize for Service to Islam, with the committee citing his commitment to the Palestinian people as a key component to deciding to award the Turkish leader the prize.
The whole tift with Turkey is getting a bit old. Turkey has said it wants to help negotiate a peace between Israel and Syria. The way things are going, it may be more realistic for Syria to serve as the mediator between Israel and Turkey.
