Pedatzur: Missing the Point of Policy
by Angelo M. Codevilla, Director, Division for Research in Strategy

On Thursday May 17, 2001 Ha'aretz English edition published an op ed by Reuven Pedatzur that accurately detailed the growing relationship between Israel and Turkey and the importance that both governments attach to it. The author argues that the relationship is essential. In his last paragraph, however, Mr. Pedatzur concludes that Israel endangers the relationship with Turkey when it deals harshly with Arabs. The implication is that to get along better with Muslim Turkey, Israel should take it easy on the Arabs. 

Pedatzur's conclusions show total misunderstanding of the basis for the Turkish - Israeli relationship, and his advice on policy is subversive of that relationship. The basis of the Israeli  - Turkish relationship is quite simply that both have the same enemies -- notably Syria and Iraq, but also the various Islamic militias.  Nothing strengthens such a relationship like each side giving evidence of success - oriented prosecution of conflict against the common enemy, and nothing undermines such a relationship like evidence of pusillanimity in the face of the common enemy.  It should come as no surprise that the latest Palestinian violence came on the heels of Israel's unilateral withdrawal from Lebanon.

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