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On Sunday, Israel’s Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer — the only Cabinet member to attend  Turkey’s Republic Day reception — is flying to Ankara to secure an $183 million commercial deal. Before his departure, he said: “Turkey has a very special place in my heart and special relationship with Israel. As a democratic Muslim country, Turkey has the ability to bridge the gaps between us and our neighbors and help promote normalization and coexistence in the region.”

Meanwhile, Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul issued an ultimatum to Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Elbit Systems to fulfill the long-delayed supply of 10 unmanned aerial vehicles to the Turkish military within the next 50 days. He warned, ”If this letter does not bear fruit either, the tender may be canceled. But there is no cancellation at the moment.”

So the immediate deal is commercial links and an easing of Israel’s military restrictions on Turkey. However, Ben-Eliezer may have another issue on the agenda.  Is Israel prepared to propose Turkey’s mediation between Damascus and Tel Aviv in return for a normalization of relationsrestoring the position from before the Gaza War? Ben-Eliezer said, “I hope my economic and political talks will make it possible to get the important relations between Israel and its Turkish strategic partner back on track. Turkey has special ties with Israel, and as a regional and democratic-Muslim power.”
And if so, is this the end of French adventurism in the Middle East or merely a tactical manoeuvre to decrease the tension between Ankara and Tel Aviv? Given that talks between Syria and Israel have been stuck due to the “no pre-condition” pre-condition and given that Turkey has been following a “zero-problem” policy with its neighbours, how sustainable is Ankara’s “honesty” towards Tel Aviv?

Israel and Syria: Can Turkey Be a Mediator?

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Maybe it’s because Israeli leaders had a busy day on Thursday — debating Palestine, considering the economy, getting their hair done — but I can’t help thinking that this may be a snub. At Turkey’s Republic Day reception in Israel, Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, the Industry, Trade and Labor Minister, was the only Israeli politician to be found. President Shimon Peres, Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, and Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon all declined their invitations.

Asked whether this was a form of protest, a spokesman for Peres said she had nothing to add. Lieberman’s spokesman stated only that the Foreign Minister would not attend and did not give any detail. A spokesman for Netanyahu said the prime minister had other obligations Thursday night. A spokeswoman for Ayalon said on Wednesday that he was not able to attend due to “scheduling problems”.

Ben-Eliezer did speak at the reception on the “very valuable” Israeli-Turkish relationship and said that it was a “great privilege to be here to today with good friends and to commemorate the 86th Republic Day of Turkey”. Then he added, “Both [Israel and Turkey] cooperate strategically – we must make the utmost of efforts to put the train of our friendship back on track.”