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Arab political analysts disagree on Turkish-Israeli relations

Politics Materials 4 June 2010 12:34 (UTC +04:00)
Arab political analysts disagree on how Turkish-Israeli relations will develop since the Israeli attacks on the "Flotilla of Freedom."
Arab political analysts disagree on Turkish-Israeli relations

Azerbaijan, Baku, June 4 / Trend U.Sadikhova /

Arab political analysts disagree on how Turkish-Israeli relations will develop since the Israeli attacks on the "Flotilla of Freedom."

Leading Arab politician Akram Khuzam said Turkey's steps toward Israel were a serious warning, but the deterioration of relations between the two countries is unlikely to accelerate.

"Despite Turkey's reaction, the events are unlikely to take a more serious turn," Khuzam told Trend over the telephone.

Relations between Turkey and Israel worsened after Israeli naval attacks on the "Flotilla of Freedom" carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza May 31. As a result of the attack, nine people were killed, including eight Turkish citizens, 19 were injured, and several people went missing.

The Turkish parliament demanded that the government review its relations with Israel June 2.

Khuzam thinks the issue of further cooperation with Turkey is in Israel's hands.

"If Israel does not want to lose such an important ally, it must pay compensation to the Turkish government," Khuzam said.

Another Arab political analyst on Middle East politics Hosni Makhalli said Turkey can use the murder of its citizens as a trump card, which threatens to deepen the split in relations with Israel.

Makhalli believes Ankara may resort to harsher measures to increase its influence in the Middle East.

"Turkey is no longer a neutral party in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. It is one of the participants in its settlement," Makhalli told Trend.

Ankara expects Israel to apologize for the actions committed against human rights activists, Turkish State Minister Egemen Bakis told journalists Sunday.

"Turkey from now on will determine its policies in accordance with Israel's position," Bakis was quoted as saying by Anadolu. 

R. Hafizoglu contributed to the article.

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