After the devastating earthquake that has killed hundreds and left many thousands still buried, Israel offered Turkey humanitarian assistance including specially trained search teams. Lives are directly at stake but so is perhaps the future of Israeli-Turkish relations, which have been badly damaged over the last year and a half since the “Gaza Flotilla incident” last May 2010. (READ – “UN Gaza Flotilla Inquiry/Report” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/un-gaza-flotilla-inquiry-report-israelturkey-by-ambassador-mo/34932 ). When Israel was enduring widespread fires the previous summer (after the “Gaza Flotilla incident), Turkey provided firefighters and other assistance to combat the blazes. The two countries generally have enjoyed cordial if not necessarily always entirely aligned relations. Turkey has also served as military base for Israel’s air force training programs. Over the last couple of months this status quo has changed. Turkey has kicked out the Israeli Ambassador and curtailed Israel’s military training on Turkish soil. (READ – “Israel/Turkey Relationship in Storm”- diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/israel-turkey-relationship-in-storm-by-ambassador-mo/35100 ). Dual earthquakes in Turkey (IZMIT) and Greece (Athens) more than a decade earlier in subsequent years helped calm Ankara-Athens relations at a time of rising tensions. Could a tragedy again here bring about reconciliation between Turkey and Israel? (Early indications from Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak is that Turkey has rejected the Israeli offer. However, Turkey has not accepted the offer of assistance from any country so far of the dozens that have offered assistance). Turkey has faced two very traumatic moments in the last few days: killing by PKL insurgents of more than 20 of its citizens and soldiers and now the highly destructive earthquake. Lives can still be rescued from the earthquake rubble in southeast Turkey. There is sense of urgency in the Israeli offer, and of lasting strategic implications for the relationship between the countries. Regardless of the politics, we offer our condolences to the families of the killed and best hopes/prayers for those still missing and suffering depravation. While seeking out the longer term implications, we must emphasize the human factor and ongoing emergency of this tragedy. (PHOTO – Courtesy of CBS – Mercy for an animal in the midst of human suffering). By Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey







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