(Image Source: Newsy Staff)


BY ORKIDE IZCI


As Turkey’s prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan tours the Middle East, Israel finds itself increasing isolated in the region and struggling to maintain a relationship with Turkey.

During his Arab Spring tour, the Turkish prime minister was greeted to cheers in Cairo, but CNN reports his visit comes at a challenging time:

“He will be here for two days. His aids say he's trying to reach out to support the pro-democracy movement here in Egypt, but his arrival comes at a time of extreme tension between Turkey and Egypt and its neighbor to the east, Israel.“

Israel raided a ship and killed 9 Turkish nationals last May, which detiorated a once-healthy alliance between the countries.

An analyst on RT explains how Israel has handled the countries cooling relationship.

“Israel, in a certain sense, is only going to be able to pursue a policy of damage limitation, hoping very much to keeping these relationships with Egypt, with Turkey, as much on track as they possibly can. Doesn’t really matter right now exactly what Israel does, Israel is going to be increasingly isolated, it’s going to be put in a very defensive situation.” 

As Israel’s place in the landscape of Middle Eastern politics changes, things are heating up domestically.

The head of Israel’s opposition party says the Israeli government needs to reposition itself:

“Turkey noticed that the US considers Israel as a burden and not as a value anymore. Turkey feels the smell of Israel’s loneliness and wants to take advantage of it. The extreme right-wing orientation of the ruling coalition made the whole world against us, and we cannot avoid the status quo.” (Source: Evrensel)

Turkish media are speculating Erdogan might use his trip to continue to pressure Tel Aviv.  A journalist tells euronews the Prime Minister requires an apology before the two nations can begin to mend broken ties.

“It’s unlikely this crisis will be resolved until the two conditions imposed by Turkey are fulfilled: that is, compensation and an apology. The government sees this as a state matter but it's also a question of honor.”

A Washington Post writer says it’s a new age for the Middle East and Israel will have to adjust  its policies with so much change.

“Here’s my bottom line on the collision of the new Arab Spring and the old animosities: Israelis may ultimately be more secure in a world of Arab democracies. But it will be a world where compromise is part of survival.”