"Rise of the Turkish crescent
By Ahmed Janabi
Erdogan said Turks supported his decision to cancel military exercises with Israel [REUTERS]
Since the Israeli war on Gaza last January, Turkey's role in Middle Eastern politics has become significantly more prominent.
When Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Justice and Development (AK) Party took office in 2002, it pledged that it would not forsake its historic, religious and cultural bonds with other Muslim countries."
More:Al Jazeera English - Focus - Rise of the Turkish crescent
