Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is a statesman who can change his colors, and a few days ago he did it again when he flattered Israel by saying that President Isaac Herzog might soon pay a visit to Turkey. Before that, in a phone conversation, Erdogan expressed condolences to Herzog over the death of his mother. Do these remarks herald another honeymoon for Israel and Turkey, the latest in a series of "honeymoons" that have stopped and started for decades?
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The phone conversations with Herzog, or Erdogan's meeting with rabbis from Muslim countries, are signs that might warrant a closer look in Israel. The future will tell us whether they will turn into a Turkish U-turn when it comes to relations with Israel. For now, with no dates yet set for Herzog and Erdogan to visit each other's countries, Israel should scrutinize whether Erdogan's Turkey has changed its views on Israel and the Jewish public as a whole. For example, has Erdogan gotten over his frequent hints at antisemitism?
Relations with Turkey might be on hold, but trade relations continue and are even thriving. In my opinion, President Herzog is getting more involved in Israel's foreign policy, and that's a good thing. Unlike Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, the president gained a wealth of diplomatic experience over his career. He remains coolheaded, and does not get flustered when he hears staffers say, "Mr. President, Erdogan is on the line." And if his Turkish colleague calls his home, it's a sign he's in trouble.
In his meeting with the rabbis, Erdogan said that relations with Israel were vital to Turkey. But we should remember that Jerusalem is committed to protecting its alliance with two countries that have oppositional, not to say hateful, relations with Turkey. The Israel-Greece-Cyprus triangle is very beneficial to gas drilling in Israel's sovereign waters, and Erdogan is sorry to see it. He also wants to take part, and next time he phones from Ankara, President Herzog should have an answer ready.
I am not among those who think that the terms "national pride" and "patriotism" are no longer relevant. Acolytes of political correctness might feel that they are destined to vanish, but this is how President Herzog should respond if Erdogan hints again that he desires change: Herzog should make ties between Turkey and Israel conditional on the Turkish president taking back his past slanders about Israel and its leaders. The apology does not need to include a public speech. It would be enough for Erdogan to include, even indirectly, a note of reconciliation in his next interview and Israel will make due with that modest gesture.
When dealing with a rival nation, Israel should act in the spirit of national pride. The chance that Erdogan will implement the recommendation is a slim one. Israel tourists who visit the bazaar in Istanbul will be satisfied with a modest step that will "all inclusive" when it comes to changing relations with Turkey.
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