Like the neighborhood bully he is, Erdogan is continuing his fever pitched rage against Israel. Now he is claiming that Israel is about to lose its closest friend in the Middle East.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan sharply criticized Israel for its reaction to the Mavi Marmara raid Thursday saying that "Israel stands to lose its closest ally in the Middle East if it does not change its mentality."It is Erdogan who is backing himself into the corner with his posturing; he is rapidly running out of room to move. Either he continues his saber (rather his cutlass) rattling inching closer to armed conflict or he tones down his anti Israeli rhetoric. If he takes the former option, whatever hopes he has of forcing his way into the EU or a NATO leadership role are finished. If he selects the latter option, he risks being perceived by HIS new friends, the Syrians and Iranians, as weak.
Erdogan argued that "Turkey tried to preserve their relationship, but the Israeli government did not understand this, and performed a historical mistake."
Given the lack of spine in the upper levels of the Obama ministry, the former option is the more likely outcome.
For Israel, Erdogan has provided an unintended service. Israelis are more united now because of the Hate Boat than they have been in recent years. Political differences are being set to the side to stand in solidarity with the IDF and each other. Moreover, to the Israeli eye, US Vice President Biden is looking more like the responsible parent at Obama's teenage bikini beach party. What IS the big deal here, anyway?
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