Seth J. Frantzman
Jerusalem Post, Nov. 1, 2022
“Ankara wants to use Israel as a conduit to closer ties with Washington. Depending on who triumphs in the elections, Turkey could continue its reconciliation, or use the elections as an excuse to try to inflame tensions and profit from any Israel-Palestinian conflicts that may erupt.”
As Israelis go to the polls for the fifth time in four years, the region could greet these latest elections with a shrug. After all, more elections will probably come in another year.
However, the current government of Prime Minister Yair Lapid and alternate Prime Minister Naftali Bennett made major strides in the region. Lapid, Bennett and Defense Minister Benny Gantz put a premium on public meetings and outreach around the Middle East, including hosting such important forums as the Negev Summit.
On the other hand, Lapid also rushed into the agreement with Lebanon days before the election. This matters, and on policies from Ukraine to Turkey, there could be shifts after the election that impact the region.
Israel and Turkey
One of the most important shifts in the last year has been Israel’s decision to work with Turkey. After years in which Ankara had bashed the Jewish state, comparing Israel to Nazi Germany and backing Hamas, Turkey sought to change its tone over the last year. This resulted in numerous high level meetings and visits.
The normalization between Ankara and Jerusalem may be only on the surface, because Turkey’s ruling AKP Party is the same party as before the reconciliation; but it could also mark a shift that continues after the election. … SOURCE
