Journal of Turkish Weekly conducted an exclusive interview with Dr. Zvi Bar’el, Middle Eastern Affairs Analyst at Haaretz Newspaper and Senior Research Fellow, Tel Aviv University – Center for Iranian Studies. Here is the full-text of interview.

Q: The recent policies of Israel and Turkey also tighten their relations besides the Mavi Marmara killings. Turkish tolerant stance towards Iranian nuclear program or Israel-Greek Cypriot cooperation on oil search and Israeli-Greek military agreement on operational matters can be given as examples of these policies. Do you regard these as a sign of new long-term partnerships?

A: We cannot talk about strategies in this region because we cannot know what is going to happen next year. We should also look at the Turkish-Iranian relationship with a different point of view as well. Iran, for example, never asks Turkey break her relations with Israel. This means in fact, Turkey could be a mediator between Israel and Iran. Between the United States and Iran, Turkey could mediate as well. Turkey is a pivotal country in this area for the case of Iran. Looking at the relations through a bilateral view only like Turkey as a friend of Iran is the enemy of Israel would be a terrible mistake for both Israel and Turkey.


Q: Then, how do you anticipate the bilateral trade relations and military cooperation between Turkey and Israel is going to be affected in upcoming period?

A: They can be harmed and they can be corrected as well. It depends a lot how two countries perceive each other. I mean if Israel perceives Turkey as an ally, I do not see these kinds of allies are affected. On the other hand, if these drifts are widened, of course these relations may be removed.


Q: I see two major challenges for Israel regarding the region’s dynamics. First, Turkey’s rapprochement with her Arab neighbors on the basis of ‘zero-problem with neighbors’ and the second is the current changes of long-established power blocks in the Arab countries possessing pivotal importance for Israel. The possible outcome of these may take place as further alienation of Israel. How should Israel respond these challenges?

A: It depends on the results of these developments. We do not know yet what kind of a regime will be established in Egypt. We do not know either the result of the movements erupted in Yemen and Libya. I think Turkey also does not know what is going to happen in these countries. The point is not what would happen but try and create an alliance between countries of the region. We should work together in order to maintain common interests. Because it is not kind of questions to ask either Turkey or Israel. Egypt should be partner of this as well. What kind of interests that Egypt has? Egypt will have to answer it by saying that we will be friends with Israel and Turkey. It is our job to wait and listen from outside.


Q: In this context, how do you see the future of the peace agreements signed by Israel and Arab states?

A: I think they will stick to the agreements and these agreements will stay there. No one including Muslim Brotherhood will cancel these or the other countries like Jordan. I do not see any possibility that these treaties will be endangered.


Q: At last, I want to ask a general question. In sensitive periods as such, what kind of foreign policy should be pursued?

A: I do not know, I cannot really answer to you, because it depends on several developments. I think no one can easily answer by listing this or that. But we have lots of things to do. First, we need to conclude the peace process regarding Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We have to find how to deal with Iran; Iran is out there. And then, we need to see what the other developments are.