Israel’s plan for Turkey

However, at certain junctures, the parties must rethink their gains and losses. In this respect, certain evaluations in Israel should make us think, because Israeli military and defense industry figures are among those who wouldn’t welcome Turkey’s getting a date for EU membership negotiations this December, and some even oppose Turkey’s EU membership outright. In addition, these same figures are the moving power in Turkish-Israeli relations. So Israeli daily Haaretz reported on Saturday that according to the Israeli Defense Ministry, Turkey’s EU membership would damage Turkish-Israeli strategic relations and hurt Ankara’s weapon purchases from Israel.

‘A decision to put Turkey on a course toward membership will strengthen [Prime Minister Recep Tayyip] Erdogan, and weaken the military, according to the [Israeli] Defense Ministry,’ wrote Haaretz. ‘An EU decision to delay membership for Turkey will cause the Turkish military to grow stronger, to the point of deposing Erdogan and declaring new elections.’ It seems the Israelis are angry at Erdogan’s latest criticisms of Israel, which are supported by many sectors of Turkish society. They say, in sum, ‘Turkey’s integration with Europe and democratization process don’t suit our strategic interests. We want a Turkey where politicians are controlled by the military.’ Recently at a conference I met with a well-known Israeli analyst of Turkey, Jacob Landau. I asked him what lessons Turkey should learn from Israel. ‘Thanks for your compliment,’ he answered. ‘However, there are many lessons which shouldn’t be taken by Turkey from Israel, but by Israel from Turkey’.”