On Sunday, Israel’s Defense Minister Ehud Barak held a 3 1/2-hour meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, which an Israeli official said was conducted in a very friendly atmosphere. During Barak’s meeting with Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, the former again acknowedged reiterated the “mistake” of Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon’s snub of the Turkish ambassador to Israel:

I believe it was a mistake, and the right step was taken according to the norms of diplomacy. It is appropriate that all the ups and downs in our relationship over the years should be solved and put behind us.

A satisfied Gonul highlighted the “strategic” relationship between both countries:

We are living in the same area and although we don’t have a common border with Israel, we have the same interests. As long as we share interests, we will work together. We are strategic allies. We would like to cooperate with Israel in every area.

Barak responded, “We see Turkey as a very important regional player. I have the confidence that we can continue to follow good friendly cooperation despite ups and downs.”

So what were the components of this “strategic” relationship? In the press briefing, three main topics were put forth: Iran’s nuclear programme, Turkey’s role in the currently blocked peace talks between Syria and Israel, and cooperation in the defense sector.

When asked by an Israeli reporter whether Ankara was able to satisfy Tel Aviv’s concerns over Tehran’s nuclear programme, Gonul said that every country has the right to develop nuclear energy, yet Turkey would not like to see a nuclear-armed Iran. When Barak was reminded about Turkey’s mediation offer, he said that there has been an offer so there is no need to bring it forward since there is no detail on the peace talks yet.
Both leaders then talked about the details of the Heron deal, in which Israel will send six jet fighters to Turkey in March and four in June.

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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?