Erdogan stands as a benchmark for the Arabs

Islamist Prime Minister managed to fall into oblivion the old idea of ​​a secular animosity between Arabs and Turks, and his figure was enlarged in the absence of leaders in the region, but the scope of long-term impact remains unclear.

"It was a great success in the Arab street," said Sinan Ulgen analyst, who directs the Center for Economic Studies and Foreign Policy (EDAM) in Istanbul. "But in regard to long-term success with the new Arab leaders, as will be seen in perspective," he added.

Sinan Ulgen According to Erdogan benefited from an unprecedented gap, "The illegitimacy of U.S. power in Iraq after the intervention, the inefficiency of European politics and the absence of leadership in the Arab world."

Even the National Transitional Council says it hopes that the new Libya is inspired by the "Turkish model". But what is the Turkish model? Erdogan, a leader from Islamic circles, stunned analysts to go beyond their usual theme of compatibility between Islam and democracy to refer to a secular state to remain "the same distance from all religious groups." He said that in Tunisia, where the Islamist movement Ennahda, who also claims to follow the Turkish model, partly as a big favorite for the elections in October.

But beyond the success of this Arab journey, one wonders what the influence of Turkey on the region’s long-term.

"Erdogan is applauded in public statements. But when the doors are closed, you hear things like these Turks cross the line," said the journalist Mehmet Ali Birand.

This discomfort is particularly evident in Egypt, where distrust of his intention to influence the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.