Can Israel bully Turkey?

By Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal


Recent Zionist arrogance towards Turkey showcases that it cannot tolerate any criticism of its atrocities in Palestine from its allies, including USA and UK and Turkey. It is not just the Palestinians and Lebanese that the Zionist regime looks down upon and kills them in abundance, it now also insults Turkey, fellow partner in US led western NATO gang, although it would still not dare launching any missiles towards the former Ottoman Empire.

On 11 Jan  Israel  issued a stern rebuke to Turkey �€™s ambassador Ahmet Oguz Celikkol over a Turkish television series which depicts Israeli intelligence agents as baby-snatchers. Israel summoned Turkey �€™s ambassador to rebuke him over a TV series "The Valley of the Wolves" degrading the Zionist regime as a gang of wolves, but ensured he was photographed on a lower chair. The television series in Turkey sparked a diplomatic row and Zionist Dy Foreign terror Minister Ayalon was caught on camera urging cameramen to note the ambassador's low seating position at a meeting on the issue. Ayalon was also heard pointing out in Hebrew that "there is only one flag here". The Turkish flag had been removed from the table, leaving only the Israeli one. In an interview later with Israel�€™s Army Radio, Ayalon was, true to Israeli style, unapologetic and said In terms of the diplomatic tactics available, this was the minimum that was warranted given the repeated provocation by political and other players in Turkey.

The fictional television series Valley of the Wolves, popular in Turkey. It depicts Israeli intelligence operatives running operations to kidnap babies and convert them to Judaism. Last October Israel complained over another Turkish series, which depicted Israeli soldiers killing Palestinians. In one clip, an Israeli soldier shoots dead a smiling young girl at close range. Breaking from common practice, Ayalon invited Israeli news cameras to join the meeting. Food typically served at such meetings was noticeably absent. Ayalon summoned the Turkish ambassador to express Israel's displeasure over "The Valley of the Wolves." To reinforce the point, Ayalon explained to the cameramen that the Turk was intentionally seated lower. Footage of Ayalon urging journalists to make clear that the Turkish ambassador was seated on a low sofa, while the Israeli officials were in much higher chairs, has been widely broadcast by the Israeli media to boost its damaged image. One Israeli newspaper even marked the height difference on the photo, and captioned it "the height of humiliation".

The view of its ambassador being insulted by a close ally of its NATO leader USA inside Tel-Aviv has left Ankara in tears plus anger and Turkish leaders are perturbed. Turkey quickly tried to save its tarnished face by demanding an Israeli apology for what it called the "discourteous" way its ambassador was treated during a diplomatic meeting. Knowing the excessive arrogance of Israel and in response, Turkey has also summoned the Israeli ambassador to Ankara to express its "annoyance". The Turkey foreign ministry has also insisted it expects steps to be taken to compensate its envoy asking the Israeli foreign ministry to respect the rules of diplomatic courtesy. Ambassador Celikkol said in a live interview with a Turkish television station that he would have left immediately had he understood the comments, which were in Hebrew. "I believed that this was a courtesy visit and did not know that it would be about a Turkish television drama," he said.

Even in the tough world of Middle East diplomacy, it was a startling snub: The Turkish ambassador was seated lower than his Israeli host, denied not only a handshake but a smile �€” all for the benefit of eager Israeli TV crews. While diplomatic messages are often found in subtle gestures and body language, fascist Israel offered a humiliating reprimand of Ankara's envoy.  The Israeli actions drew an angry response from Turkey, exposing the deep rift that has emerged over the past year between the Jewish state and its closest friend in the Muslim world. The conflict also reflected a deeper shift under way in the region as Turkey's Islamic-oriented government has moved closer toward Israel's archenemy Iran.
 
Turkey has long been an ally of Israel, but relations have deteriorated as Ankara has repeatedly criticized Israel for its offensive in Gaza a year ago. The row comes ahead of a planned visit by Israeli terror military minister Ehud Barak to Turkey this Sunday. The meeting with the Turkish ambassador, Ahmet Oguz Celikkol, was called over the fictional television series Valley of the Wolves, popular in Turkey. It depicts Israeli intelligence operatives running operations to kidnap babies and convert them to Judaism. Last October Israel complained over another Turkish series, which depicted Israeli soldiers killing Palestinians. In one clip, an Israeli soldier shoots dead a smiling young girl at close range.

Israel and Turkey �€” powerful non-Arab states in an overwhelmingly Arab region�€” have forged close military and economic ties in recent decades. For Israel, the Turks have given Israel a rare ally in the Muslim world, while the Turks have been able to gain favor with the West. Last year, the Turks mediated several rounds of indirect peace talks between Israel and Syria. The alliance, however, has become strained since the election of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Islamic-oriented party in 2002 �€” particularly in the wake of Israel's war against militants in the Gaza Strip last winter. In one memorable incident days after the Gaza war, Erdogan stormed off a stage he was sharing with Israeli President Shimon Peres at the World Economic Forum. Turkey also canceled a high-profile military exercise with Israel last fall.

In Oct 2009, Turkey has postponed a joint air force drill after opposing Israel's participation, the Israeli army says. The regular exercise to improve international aerial cooperation was to involve several NATO air forces. But Israel's exclusion led to the United States and Italy refusing to take part in the exercise either. Relations between Israel and Turkey have cooled since Ankara criticized Israel's offensive in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip in December and January. Turkey and Israel have previously enjoyed close military cooperation and conduct joint naval exercises.

The diplomatic spat reflects a much bigger transformation going on in both countries. Ayalon, a former Israeli ambassador to Washington, is a veteran diplomat and a member of an ultranationalist party whose leader, foreign terror minister hawkish Avigdor Lieberman, has urged his diplomats to be a little less diplomatic. January 2009 Turkey's prime minister has stormed off the stage at the World Economic Forum in Davos after a heated debate on Gaza with Israel's president. Recep Tayyip Erdogan clashed with Shimon Peres, whose voice had risen as he made an impassioned defence of Israel's actions, jabbing his finger. Erdogan said Peres had spoken so loudly to conceal his "guilt". He accused the pro-Israeli moderator of not allowing him to speak. The Turkish PM stressed later that he had left the debate not because of his disagreements with Peres but because he had been given much less time to speak than the Israeli leader.

Turkey is one of the few Muslim countries to have dealings with Israel, but relations have been under strain since the Islamist-rooted AK Party was elected to power in 2002. Erdogan reignited tensions this week when he accused Israel of being a threat to world peace. A Turkish television drama, "The Valley of the Wolves," which depicts Israeli security forces as kidnapping children and shooting old men, has added to the hostilities. That followed a drama aired on Turkish state television last October that portrayed Israeli soldiers shooting a Palestinian baby at close range. Israel has said the programs are anti-Semitic and inflammatory. Joint military exercises row was resolved when Israel released the arms consignment as per the deal to Ankara delayed by Tel Aviv inordinately to make Turkey pro-Israel. Turkey has slammed Israel for preaching morality to Turks when Zionist regime is devoid even the elementary norms of morality.

Turkey has also sent mixed signals as it balances its emerging role as a voice for Muslims with a continuing alliance with the West. Turkey has long been an ally of Israel, but relations have deteriorated as Turkey has repeatedly criticized Israel's conduct in its operation in Gaza a year ago. Rights groups say over 1,400 innocent Palestinians died, including women and children,  during the Zionist fascist strikes in Dec-Jan 2009 to boost the poll  prospects of the ruling Kadima coalition, but Israel said was aimed at ending rocket fire by some from Gaza- obviously from Mossad agents.

Turkey is one of the few Muslim countries to have relations with Israel, but these have been under strain since the Islamist-rooted AK Party was elected to power in 2002. An Israel's top diplomat who served in Turkey in the 1980s said repairing the divide between the countries would require one of two things: an improvement in Israel's relations with the Arab world or Erdogan's departure as prime minister. Neither appears to be imminent. Perhaps, the much better option would be for Israelis to elect only leaders who are arrogant, frauds and former and current terrorist leaders. Since Turkey and Israel share intelligence and have strong trade ties, following a military cooperation agreement in 1996, Israel thinks it can control Turkey just like Palestine. In January, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan publicly criticized Israel over the Gaza campaign and walked out of a session of the World Economic Forum in Switzerland attended by Israeli President Shimon Peres.

Israel insists all its allies promote Zionist fascism in Palestine. Turkey  has supported Tehran's right to acquire nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Israel, like much of the West, believes Iran is trying to develop a nuclear weapon and thinks the international community should be isolating, not coddling, the clerics in Tehran. Israel has also been angered by heavy criticism by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who accused it of using disproportionate force against the Palestinians. Israel's foreign ministry issued a statement denouncing the television series and Erdogan's comments as "anti-Israel. �€œTurkey is the last country that should preach morality to Israel and to the Israel Defense Forces," the statement said.

Meanwhile, possibly on suggestion by the USA, or to reveal its global importance, Turkey said will host a meeting of Afghanistan's neighbors on Jan 25 and Jan 26 aimed to encourage much broader cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan, in preparation for an international conference in London on 28 Jan. Turkey�€™s Foreign Minister Ahmet told a news conference in London the regional meeting on Afghanistan will be held in Turkey on January 26, a day after a previously-announced meeting there of the presidents of Turkey, Afghanistan and Pakistan. On the 26th, there would have a regional conference in Turkey to assure this regional ownership (of the Afghan situation. The two meetings will pave the way for an international conference in London on Jan. 28.  The meetings are part of a consistent strategy on Afghanistan agreed between Turkey and Britain. Israel opposes any peace move any where in the world because that will impact on Mideast peace operations as well.

One does not know the ongoing confrontations are real or imposed by the USA which controls the notorious UNSC and terrorist NATO of which Turkey is lone member form the Islamic world. Fear of Soviet invasion prompted Turkey to enter the NATO, but is still struggling to enter the EU.  Turley�€™s  interest in resolving US led terrorist war in Afghanistan is not good news for the Zionist regime which fears Turkey soon would venture into peace plan for Palestine too upsetting all Israeli terror designs. The Israeli military has several lucrative contracts with Turkey and Defense Minister Ehud Barak is scheduled to travel there next week. Turkey has to keep reminding the Israeli leaders that it is not Palestine and it take the Zionist regime to task if it wants. One does not even know the ongoing confrontations are real or imposed by the USA which controls the notorious UNSC and terrorist NATO of which Turkey is lone member from the Islamic world. Fear of Soviet invasion prompted Turkey during the Cold war era to enter the NATO, but is still struggling to enter the EU as a few European Axis Evil state oppose European nation Turkey�€™s entry into European Union. While the Isslmaic Turkey is engaged in double-speak and terror ties withanti-Islamc Evil states, Israel very effectively exploits the dilemmas of the former Ottoman Empire.