Expert: Turkey severs ties with Israel to increase presence in Islamic world

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey’s decision to downscale diplomatic ties and suspend defense agreements with Israel was a well considered step, according to a Turkologist.

As Ruben Melkonyan told a news conference in Yerevan, Turkey realizes repercussions of the step, taken in hopes of reaping some benefits. “By downscaling ties with Israel, Turkey hopes to increase its presence in the Islamic world,” the expert said.

Melkonyan characterized Turkey’s demanding Israel’s apologies for deaths in Freedom Flotilla raid to be unacceptable, in view of Ankara’s refusal to apologize for the massacres of 1,5 mln innocents in 1915 Armenian Genocide. “Turkey keeps demanding for Gaza blockade release while refusing to discontinue Armenia’s blockade,” Melkonyan concluded.

In his September 6 statement, Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said more sanctions against Israel could follow the expulsion of the Israel's ambassador and suspension of military ties. Turkey also suspended military deals last week after Israel refused to apologize for the botched Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound protest flotilla that killed nine pro-Palestinian activists last year. Israel has expressed regret for the loss of lives. Erdogan described the raid as "savagery" and accused Israel of acting like "a spoiled boy" in the region.