Saturday, February 21, 2009

What is behind Turkey's antagonism toward Israel? - Haaretz - Israel News

"What is behind Turkey's antagonism toward Israel?
By Anat Lapidot-Firilla
Tags: Gaza, Erdogan, Turkey, Israel

There are many different theories about Turkey's increasingly harsh criticism of Israel and its treatment of the Palestinians. Some have suggested that the hostility is grounded in the internal struggle between Turkey's secular military and the country's Islamist ruling party. By this logic, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's attacks on Israel are meant to embarrass the army, which has extensive links with Israel's military establishment. Others view Turkey's vocal support for Hamas as indicative of an explicit decision on the part of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) to pull the country out of its alliance with the West - while drawing closer to Iran."

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