Erdogan's Grand Vision for Turkey and the Arab World
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan's actions and words confirm his country's independence in determining its foreign affairs. What course is he charting for Turkey's future?
by Paul Kieffer
It began with a dramatic scene at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland,
in January 2009. During a panel discussion on the Israeli intervention in
Gaza, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan walked off the stage when he
was refused extra time to speak. Immediately prior to his departure, he
angrily told Israeli President Shimon Peres that "when it comes to
killing, you [Israelis] know well how to kill."
At first, some observers thought Erdo-gan's harsh criticism of Israel's
intervention in Gaza was merely a momentary lapse of diplomatic restraint.
The following 12 months, however, showed that Erdogan's outburst reflects
what appears to be a radical change in Turkey's foreign policy toward
Israel. The inflammatory language continued when the Turkish leader promised
a retaliatory air strike "like an earthquake" if Israel were
to violate Turkey's air space in attacking Iran. He also predicted
that "Allah's revenge" would come on Israel.
One year after the angry remark in Davos, the Turkish government threatened
to recall its ambassador from Tel Aviv. According to Erdogan, such retaliation
was appropriate after Israel's deputy foreign minister Danny Ayalon
delivered a protest to Turkey's ambassador Ahmet Oguz Celikkol in
a humiliating manner—refusing to shake his hand and having him sit
in a lower position. Israel's complaint was about the popular Turkish
television series Valley of the Wolves, which, among other offenses,
depicted Israeli intelligence operatives kidnapping children to convert
them to Judaism.
