While some political analysts and experts have said that Turkey’s decision to expel the Israeli ambassador and to suspend all military agreements with Israel reflects Turkey’s regional power, others have noted that the timing of Turkey’s decision followed Israel’s expression of regret for killing Egyptian security personnel in Sinai.
Israel has refused to apologize for attacking Freedom Flotilla 2 mid last year, a raid which left 9 Turks dead. Israel has also refused to officially apologize for the killing of five Egyptian policemen during a border raid in Sinai on 18 August. Egypt took no diplomatic measures in response.
Mostafa al-Feqqi, former head of the Shura Council’s Foreign Relations and National Security Committee, told Al-Masry Al-Youm that Turkey’s stance is supported by its regional power, alliance with the US and membership in NATO. Turkey also has the ability to militarily deter Israel and is internally stable, he said.
Israel, he said, violates international laws and constitutes a racist state that disregards international reports and public opinion.
Emad Gad, a researcher at Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, said Israel is capable of manipulating UN reports via permanent members of the UN, particularly the US, France and Britain. The UN report on the raid on the Freedom Flotilla has been charged for not condemning Israel on the killing of Gaza activists.The report said that Israel's naval blockade of Gaza is legal and that the flotilla organizers had acted "recklessly" in trying to achieve the mission.
He added that the fact that Turkey expelled the Israeli ambassador will not have any implications, while a similar step by Egypt would lead to the build-up of military forces at the border.
Waheed Abdel Meguid, an advisor to Al-Ahram Center for Strategic Studies, praised Turkey’s stance vis-à-vis Israel. He added that the 25 January revolution has changed Egypt’s internal policies but not its foreign policy.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
