By Andranik Ispiryan

The struggle for influence has lately intensified in the Near East. Turkey, Iran’s new rival in the struggle for leadership in the Islamic World, has made serious steps. Specifically, for Turkey to extend its influence over the Muslim World and consolidate its positions in the Near East, the ruling party, Justice and Development, in the person of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan, took advantage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and entered into a serious disagreement with Israel. To get the title of benefactor and savior of the Palestinian people, Erdogan chose a radical way – leveling severe criticism and hurling insults at Israel.

Turkish-Israeli tension was generated in Davos, Switzerland, in 2009, when the Turkish Premier charged Israel with slaughtering civilians in Palestine and walked out. That incident is considered a response to Israeli Premier’s Ehud Olmert’s visit to Turkey late in 2008, which was followed by Israeli attacks on Gaza a few days later. The Israeli Premier’s visit to Turkey just a few days before the attacks on Gaza left the impression Turkey was supporting Israel. Turkey thus set the Islamic World against itself. However, Turkey tried to prove it was not informed of the military operations planned by Israel. The Turkish leadership just could not swallow that insult – Israel’s setting the Islamic World against Turkey. A little later, in January 2010, Israel gave its response to Erdogan’s behavior in Davos. The Turkish Ambassador to Israel was summoned to the Israeli Foreign Office and issued a note of protest against an anti-Israeli TV series being shown in Turkey. Moreover, the Turkish Ambassador was offered a lower chair. True, later, under Turkey’s pressure, Israel offered official apologies. However, it had done what it had sought to.

The Justice and Development Party, which won the 2002 parliamentary elections in Turkey - as well as a reputation of an Islamic party due to its leaders’ previous political activities - sprang another surprise by launching a Neo-Ottomanism policy. The so-called “zero problems with neighbors” policy declared by one of the architects of the Neo-Ottomanism policy was chiefly intended for the Islamic World – the Armenian-Turkish reconciliation process failed by the Turkish authorities demonstrated their unwillingness to improve relations with Armenia. That is, one of Turkey’s priorities is extending its influence over the Islamic World. However, zero-problems-with-neighbors statements alone did not settle all the issues. Turkey, which has been maintaining Armenia’s blockade for 17 years, started assisting Israel-blockaded Gaza and criticizing Israel.

The May 31 incident, when Israeli commandos killed nine Turkish activities in storming the ships carrying “humanitarian aid” to Gaza, ushered in a new stage in the developments.

The world was shocked at why the Israeli commandos fired at unarmed people. Israel gave a concrete answer: the activists threatened the Israeli soldiers. A few days later, the Turkish Hurriyet newspaper published photos of bleeding Israeli soldiers beaten up by the activities aboard the ship. According to some information it was Erdogan’s party that sponsored the flotilla with aid for Gaza. That is, the Turkish leaders deliberately came into conflict with Israel.

The Turkish authorities voiced grave doubts that the Israeli attack on the Mavi Marmara on May 31 and the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants’ attack on the İskenderun naval unit the same day, with seven Turkish servicemen killed, were a mere coincidence. Trying to establish any link between incidents and Israel is not a new thing for Turkey. The Turkish press is replete with such salient facts. However, an investigation proved that the PKK had prepared the attack several months before.

Erdogan’s “short-term” threats against Israel reached their climax in the form of anti-Israeli actions in Muslim countries. Erdogan’s pictures were used, and the press reported cases of newly born children being named Erdogan. The anti-Israeli actions in a number of Arab states were just an insignificant aspect of the developments. The articles in the Arab press show the Islamic World is well aware of Turkey’s real, far-reaching designs. The Arab world, which had for centuries been under the Ottoman yoke, is not at all enthusiastic about Turkey’s Neo-Ottoman aspirations and is well aware of the true nature of Erdogan’s populist statements. Nonetheless, the Arab world will not miss its chance to play the Turkish card against Israel.

The Turkish leaders either stopped or stepped down the anti-Israeli campaign for the following reasons: 1. Turkey did not get the necessary support from the international community; 2. Military cooperation with Israel is still important for Turkey; 3. The PKK, within a few days, showed unprecedented activity, creating chaos and causing a sense of uncontrollability inside the country. This caused Turkey to remove the discussions of the consequences of Israel’s attack on the Mavi Marmara from the agenda. It was clear that the unsettled issues might create difficulties for Turkey any moment. As the Turkey-based Aksiyon magazine wrote: “As Turkey is gaining strength, an unseen hand is trying to bring it back - to the days of chaos.”