By May 18, 2018
While the recent diplomatic rift between Israel and Turkey indicates a further deterioration in relations, the Turkish government has avoided taking concrete steps that could directly hurt Israel, whereas the Israeli response to Turkey’s rhetoric was more detrimental and bitter.
Israeli security forces have killed some 62 Palestinians and wounded scores of civilians by firing during demonstrations held on the Gaza border, which coincided with the opening of the US Embassy in Jerusalem.
The carnage drew a harsh denunciation from Turkey’s sworn pro-Palestinian President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Yet closer scrutiny suggests Erdogan wasn’t framing his response for the international community, but rather to appeal to Turkish voters ahead of the June 24 snap elections.
However, Israel’s response to Turkey’s position was quite the other way around: It was aimed squarely at Turkey’s president, not Israeli society.
