Gaza op has put an end to Israel's honeymoon with Turkey

[IndianaGreen]

Last update - 06:22 08/01/2009

ANALYSIS / Gaza op has put an end to Israel's honeymoon with Turkey

By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent

Israel's Gaza operation has put an end to the honeymoon period in Turkish-Israeli relations and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's good relationship with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The two leaders had become close amid Ankara's mediation between Israel and Syria. Since Operation Cast Lead began, however, links between them have been almost completely severed.

The offensive caught Erdogan completely by surprise. Just four days earlier, Olmert had hosted him in his office until late into the night to talk about Syria. The Gaza issue hardly came up at all, and he was given no inkling of the punishment his hosts were planning to inflict on Hamas in the Strip.

A day after the offensive began, Erdogan issued a scathing indictment against Israel and Olmert in particular. "He betrayed me and harmed the honor of Turkey," he said.

Erdogan advisers, who participated in the Syria talks, expressed frustration and disappointment at Israel's actions: "We were so close to direct talks, and this operation ruined everything."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1053583.html

[Idealism]

1. Funny how I keep hearing these people pushing for talks and Israel saying no

Keith's guest a few nights back said the Bush administration urged Israel to not renew the cease-fire.