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Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan (above) is visiting Israel for the first time. But are relations between Israel and Turkey really warming up?
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| By israelinsider staff and partners May 1, 2005 |
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Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan makes his first-ever visit to Jerusalem today, in what is largely being viewed by Israel as a return to "business as usual" between the two countries. A major arms deal between the two allies will top the diplomatic agenda.
Namely, the Turkish and Israeli PM will discuss the signing of a new deal to upgrade about 30 F-4 Phantoms belonging to the Turkish air force, at a cost of US$400-500 million. Israel Aircraft Industries upgraded 54 Turkish Phantoms in a previous deal, in which they shared the work with Turkish industries. This time the Turks want all the work to be carried out at a Turkish air force base.
Security sources in Israel said Saturday that the deal "is moving in a positive direction" but the Turks are still undecided about what it will contain. About two weeks ago a deal was signed to sell Israeli-made long-range Heron drones to the Turkish air force. The Israel Aircraft Industries will supply the planes and Elbit Systems will provide the communications and monitoring systems in a deal worth $200 million.
Amidst the renewed cooperation, the fact that Erdogan will likely refuse to wear a kippa during his visit to Yad Vashem, may cloud the warm diplomatic relations.
While officials in Jerusalem said they would not blow this issue out of proportion, it has been made clear to the Turks from a number of different quarters that Israel views wearing a head covering at the site as a sign of respect. The decision, according to sources in Jerusalem, was now in the hands of the Turks.
When Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul visited Yad Vashem on his visit in January, he refused to put on a kippa, in an act Israeli officials said was apparently out of concern for how a picture of him in a kippa would play to his constituency back home. According to these officials, Erdogan was reticent for the same reasons.
This will be the first visit to Israel for Erdogan, who heads the Islamic-based AKP party. The visit has additional significance since Turkey is currently the head of the Organization of Islamic Conference.
Erdogan is coming to Israel at the head of a large delegation which includes his wife, four ministers, some 10 parliament members and about 100 business people. The Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, and his new deputy in charge of purchasing, will stay in Israel for two more days as guests of the Defense Ministry.
Relations between the two countries were strained last year after Erdogan called Israel's assassination of Hamas heads "state terror." Now, it seems, Turkey again wants warmer ties with Israel.
Turkey surprised Israel last month when Erdogan spoke with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on the phone for the first time -- on April 15 -- informing him of his intention to visit Israel and the Palestinian Authority. He thanked Sharon for Israel's indirect assistance in encouraging the U.S. to persuade the Europeans to begin talks on Turkey's joining the European Union.
According to Israeli sources, Erdogan is not coming at a particularly convenient time: the Europeans have cooled somewhat toward Turkey, ties between Ankara and Washington have reached a standstill, and domestic opposition to Erdogan's government is on the rise.
Erdogan's 24-hour visit to Jerusalem, followed by meetings with PA leaders in Ramallah, is meant to show his involvement in regional matters. Last Wednesday, Erdogan hosted a group of Israeli and Palestinian industrialists in Ankara, after pressuring Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to agree to the Palestinian delegation's participation.
Israel stands to make diplomatic capital out of a visit by a Muslim leader who understands how good relations with Israel can serve his country, even if he is fiercely opposed to Israel's "occupation of the territories". Erdogan has frequently criticized what he views as the unequal balance of power between Israel, which has a large and advanced military, and the Palestinians who don't even have a state and "fight with stones." He does not accept the Israeli argument that the Palestinians are a serious security threat.
"The main challenge of the visit," a government source in Jerusalem said, "is to develop a regional-political agenda with Turkey that will complement the close military and economic ties."
Israel has been restrained in its public responses to Erdogan's harsh attacks, but has expressed its displeasure behind the scenes, sending sharply-worded messages both directly to Ankara and via the U.S. administration and American Jewish organizations. Military relations, though, have remained strong between the two countries.
On this visit, Erdogan is also expected to sign a first-ever agreement on cooperation in civilian research and development, the details of which were hammered out last week. Israel wants to involve Turkey in the purchase of natural gas from Russia, which was discussed during the visit last week of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Israel. Russian gas reaches Turkey by pipeline, and from there it could be shipped to Israel.
In 2004, non-military trade between Israel and Turkey was valued at $2 billion as opposed to $1.4 billion the previous year. Israel imports $1.2 billion worth of goods from Turkey, and exports $0.8 billion to Turkey, in addition to military trade worth hundreds of millions of dollars and another $300 million that Israeli tourists spend in Turkey.
The AP contributed to this report.
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