Tzedek-Tzedek

I’m currently in Ankara , Turkey . I’ve been travelling here regularly for business for around a decade. Ten years ago, I was warmly treated in Turkey , both by clients and by Joe-in-the-street – who were enthusiastic about showing their respect and affection for anyone from Israel . With the series of hostile acts over the past years by Turkey’s Prime Mini ster Recep Tayyip Erdoğan against Israel, culminating in this week’s expulsion of Israel’s ambassador and many diplomatic staff, and today’s news report that Israeli travelers were systematically harassed at Istanbul airport, a once fine relationship, has been irreparably   shredded. Although it feels a bit nutty to be still coming here, with the relations between the two countries at rock bottom, I’m actually a (very small) part of a four billion dollar Israel/Turkey commerce. Interestingly enough, and counter intuitional, this binational business is stronger than ever – according to Yediot Achronot, up a dramatic 26% u...

Now re-elected to office for his third consecutive term, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has led his country consistently away from a Western orientation, to a more Eastern orientation. Erdogan's foreign policy has been marketed under the catchy slogan "zero problems with neighbors". This sounds as controversial as motherhood and apple pie. However, when one looks around at the identities of Turkey 's neighbors, the problems inherent in this policy become clearer. Iran , Syria , Iraq , Lebanon , Armenia … Under Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, Turkey has invested tremendous priority in building economic, cultural and political bonds, particularly with Iran and Syria , including fostering warmer relations with Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza . This has come at the cost of Turkey 's hitherto strategic alliance with Israel – with spectacular blow-outs at Davros (the public spat between Erdogan and Israel 's 85 year old Preside...

A quick review of history, by way of introduction. In 1987 the Palestinians launched a civil revolt or “Intifada” against Israel , which lasted until 1993. The outbreak appeared to be spontaneous and popular, linked to a traffic accident in which an Israeli driver killed 4 Palestinians, and initially exploded into violence in the Jabalia Refugee Camp in Gaza . The First Intifada spread throughout Gaza , Judea and Samaria and was characterized tactically by Palestinian youth attacking Israeli troops using rocks and Molotov cocktails (petrol bombs). Televised images of youths with rocks defined the violence for many, but during the first four years of the uprising, more than 3,600 Molotov cocktail attacks, 100 hand grenade attacks and 600 assaults with guns or explosives were reported by the Israel Defense Forces. The violence was directed at Israeli soldiers and civilians alike: 16 Israeli civilians and 11 soldiers were killed by Palestinians in the territories; more than 1,400 Isr...