Schlaglicht Israel Nr. 16/11 Aktuelles aus israelischen Tageszeitungen 28. August – 12. September 2011 1. Krise zwischen Israel und der Türkei Nach der Veröffentlichung eines UN-Berichts zur Mavi Marmara-Affäre, bei der die israelische Armee neun Türken an Bord eines Protestschiffes auf dem Weg nach Gaza getötet hatte, hat sich die Krise zwischen Israel und der Türkei vertieft. Die von dem ehemaligen neuseeländischen Premierminister Geoffrey Palmer geführte Untersuchungskommissi­on warf Israel"exzessive Gewalt" vor, erklärte die Seeblockade des Gazastreifens jedoch für legitim und kritisierte die türkische Regierung, die die Gaza­Flottille nicht verhindert habe. Nachdem Israel sich weigert, eine offizielle Ent­schuldigung abzugeben und lediglich sein Bedauern ausdrückte, reagierte die Türkei nun mit einer Reihe von Sanktionen: Israelische Diplomaten wurden des Landes verwiesen, verteidigungsrelevante Handels­abkommen zwischen Israel und der Türkei wurden ausgesetzt. Außerdem kündigte der türkische Pre­mierminister Recep Tayyip Erdogan verstärkte Pat­rouillen der türkischen Marine im Mittelmeer an. Breaking up is hard to do "The results of the UN Palmer Report[…] have driven another nail into the coffin that is Turkish­Israeli relations.[…] Both sides have conflicting narratives regarding the root causes of the split. Israeli experts point the finger at[…] Erdogan, and the AKP’s Muslim roots, as the source of recent strife. Turks counter that it has been Israel’s growing belligerence towards the Palestinians that is to blame.[…] So what really went wrong with the relationship? After decades of playing a quieter role in the Middle East, Turkey decided to reengage with the region, particularly with its Arab neighbors.[…] What now mattered most to Turkey was economic stability and the development of superpower status, which it aimed to accomplish by making peace with its tradi­tional rivals. However, Turkey’s'zero problems' approach has experienced significant setbacks adjusting to the Arab Spring, and its relationship with Israel has suffered as a result." Gabriell Mitchell, JPO 07.09.11 Erdogan has engineered crisis in relations "In the Turkish matter,[Netanyahu] has acted as sanely and logically as possible.[…] Erdoğan, began raging against Israel even before the Mavi Marmara affair, and it is important to re­member this.[…] For Erdoğan, Israel is not a pra c­tical matter, but a radical Islamic one. […] Erdoğan looks and sounds like the man who is planning for a crisis.[…] If Erdoğan really wanted an apology, he would have asked for it in a completely different style. When he sets ultimatums, when he expels an ambassador[…], when he abuses and curses us- it is not merely humiliation, it is proof that the man is a radical Islamist. There is no point is crying about lost interests. That is unquestionably a shame, but these interests were not lost on the Mavi Marmara, and not because of Netanyahu, but on the day that Erdoğan rose to power." Matti Golan, GLO 06.09.11 Erdogan the hypocrite " An apology,[…] lifting the Gaza blockade, and Israeli acquiescence to an international probe – these were the Turkish demands.[…] Now, after their hopes were dashed, with the international committee that the Turks so much wanted failing to meet Turkey’s incredibly impudent demands[…], Erdogan has no option left but to raise the bar of threats and sanctions." Shaul Rosenfeld, JED 07.09.11 Turkey no great power "Instead of restraint and sound judgment, as one would expect from the leader of a great power, Er­dogan resorts to impassioned zeal and makes threats as if he was the neighborhood thug.[…] 1