TIMES ONLINE: Is Turkey a Western outpost in the east or a Muslim country with European aspirations? Unloved in most of the EU, Ankara has been performing an awkward tightrope act in its neighbourhood, preaching Western values to Muslim countries while nurturing close ties with Israel.
Monday’s raid on the Gaza peace flotilla has exposed the flaws in that strategy. As parliament called on the Government yesterday to review military co-operation with Israel, Turkey was drifting where some commentators argue it has always belonged — towards the Middle East.
After cancelling war games and recalling its ambassador, Ankara has become one of Israel’s loudest critics overnight. With the domestic media pumping out ceaseless images of the raid and wounded Turks returning home, security had to be stepped up at Israeli diplomatic missions and across Istanbul to protect the Jewish community from public anger. >>> Analysis: Alexander Christie-Miller | Thursday, June 03, 2010
