The Turkish newspapers are reporting that the governments of Turkey and Israel are about to announce that they have reached agreement on a reconciliation. That would renew ties between the two countries. It would also give Turkey a bit more leverage in dealing with the threats coming from Syria.
The reality of this move is that Turkey is worried about Iran and the Shiite forces in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. Not only is Turkey nearly all Sunni Moslem, but it also is not Arab. That means that it has major ethnic and religious differences with the majority of its neighbors. Given the increasing level of unrest in those neighboring countries, it only makes sense that the Turks now want stable relations with Israel, the only other regional power that finds itself in the same situation.
For the last few years, Turkey has flirted with Islamic extremism. That phase, however, seems to have passed. If so, it is good news for the world.
The reality of this move is that Turkey is worried about Iran and the Shiite forces in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. Not only is Turkey nearly all Sunni Moslem, but it also is not Arab. That means that it has major ethnic and religious differences with the majority of its neighbors. Given the increasing level of unrest in those neighboring countries, it only makes sense that the Turks now want stable relations with Israel, the only other regional power that finds itself in the same situation.
For the last few years, Turkey has flirted with Islamic extremism. That phase, however, seems to have passed. If so, it is good news for the world.
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