Israel and Turkey: chronicle of the conflict

President of Israel Shimon Peres and Premier Benjamin Netanyahu expressed condolences to the prime minister of Turkey, Redjep Erdogan, on his mother’s passing. Netanyahu said recently he lost his beloved mother himself and understands Erdogan’s feelings.

The Israeli leaders emphasize it is only a human gesture without any political meaning. However, the foreign ministry of Israel hopes that such human gestures can lead to approach between two countries.

In recent weeks relations between Turkey and Israel continued to worsen in all spheres. Speech by Erdogan in RSA, in which he called Israel “the main threat to peace in the region,” caused heavy indignation in Israel. The state also follows psychological war, which was unleashed by Turkish naval forces against Israeli trade ships in the Mediterranean Sea. Turkish military ships come close to them, establish contact and accuse them of breaking international sea law and demand them to alter their course. In general, activity of military ships in the Mediterranean Sea causes concern of Greece and Cyprus.

Meanwhile, Israel worries about increasing of anti-Semitic attitude in Turkey and launching “Gaza tax” for local Jewish businessmen, despite Erdogan’s statements. The tax presupposes that a share of a Jewish businessman bargaining with a Muslim trader is deducted allegedly in favor of families of nine deceased Turkish citizens, who died in clash with Israeli militaries on the ship Mavi-Marmara. Dani Danon, the deputy of Knesset, has already sent a letter to Turkish Premier urging him to cancel the discrimination tax, which reminds dark times of the Middle Ages.

Nevertheless, intensive search for ways of approaching between two countries goes on. For example, Shimon Peres stated he is ready to express his and Israeli people apologies and condolences for death of Turkish citizens in the Marmara, but only if Turkey apologizes too. Turkey rejects this proposal.

In this context, representatives of Israeli Armenian community and some political activists, who insist on recognition of Armenian genocide 1915, enhance their voices. Several well-known Armenian lobby representatives came to Israel from the USA for promotion of this issue. Supporters of recognition by Israel the genocide strive for considering this issue by the Knesset committee on education, rather than by the committee on foreign affairs and defense. Thus, it will have humanitarian, but not political or diplomatic importance. Meanwhile, the left Israeli media publishes articles convincing the government that refusal from recognition of Armenian genocide is a pitch brand on conscience of Jewish people.

In addition, ambiguity of Israeli-Turkish relations is supported by the Israeli movie “Good morning, Mr. Idelson,” which gained wide popularity of Turkish audience and entered in list of participants of Rendez-Vous Istanbul Movie Festival, one of the most prestigious festivals in Turkey. It is the third Israeli movie, which becomes a participant of Turkish festivals since worsening of relations between the countries. The director of the film Josy Madmoni said he and the screen writer Erez Ko-Elem plan to visit the movie festival. “Good morning, Mr. Idelman” is considered to be one of the best Israeli movies of 2011. Meanwhile, in Israel the Turkish film “Love likes coincidences” is very popular.

Petr Lyuksimon, Israel. Exclusively to VK.