Turkey was once a key ally to both Israel and the U.S. Today, under the leadership of Prime Minister Erdogan, Turkey is becoming a leader of the Arab League. Erdogan is at present the most popular man in the Muslim world for his vitriolic depiction of Israeli leadership. His ties with extremist Hamas are not comforting and his dinner invitations to Iranian president Ahmadinejad are even more unsettling.
This geographic crossroads in no longer a mediating presence between East and West – today Turkey is representative of the East, and an extreme East at that. The Erdogan government is becoming increasingly anti-sectarian, anti-democratic and anti-Israel. Where does this place them? Right in the forefront of Islamic Extremism.
What can be done about this? For one, the U.S. could stand in and invite Erdogan as a mediating force between Israelis and Palestinians, where the West Bank is taking pragmatic steps towards a two state solution. Diplomacy seems to be the best move to make in this global world, where isolationism foments extremism.
Meanwhile, the E.U. passed sanctions on Iran that are stronger than the U.N.’s expected restrictions. Israel is moderating their sanctions on Gaza in response to international criticism.
Here’s hoping that moderation infects the rest of the Middle East.
