..if it bit them in the nose. These Turks are pathetic. They tried to join the EU, then they tried to partner with Israel and the US. When all that failed, they tried to get in bed with Iran and Syria. That didn't go as planned either so now they flirt with Egypt. Who's gonna be Turkey's next best friend? North Korea? Zimbabwe? Maybe the arrogant tone of the Turks is a reason for all these failed diplomatic moves. Even in Egypt, the gayish Muslim Brotherhood is already angry at Erdogan for calling for a secular Egypt. If Turkey is so desperate for friends, it should leave north Cyprus, apologize to the Armenians and mind its own Muslim ass.

A JEWISH PROVERB : WHEN YOU WILL MAKE A PARTNERSHIP GO UPSTAIRS ( Look for a rich partner ). WHEN YOU WILL MARRY GO DOWNSTAIRS ( Look for a simple girl that will not dominate you ) .

I really wonder why Israelis react so harshly to Turkey and its policies. Israelis have soooo many enemies...when Ahmadinajad say something anti-Israel, no one in Israel really cares. But when Turkey says/does something, everyone is up in arms and spew their anti-Turkey hatred with an incredible intensity. Why is that? How is Turkey any different from Israel's many other enemies that warrants that "special treatment"?

Why do Israeli always think all the world is against them? Whenever Israel has a problem with a neighbor or with another state they blame them with 'anti-semitism'? I don't think Turks are anti-Semites. They are upset about the fact that Israeli regular army murdered Turkish civilians in a boat in the international waters. Israel should start acting like a normal country instead of acting like a little kid who can scream any where they want. What if we stop helping Israel with our weapons... Will Israel continue acting like this? Israel should apologize and move on!!!

People in countries which are reasonably well disposed towards Israel and are boycotting Durban 3 to show support get the same ''hate'' treatment from talkbackers on this site. Its as if the talkbackers feel so long as America is their friend they are free to hate everybody else in the world.

Turkey's alliances can be best understood in terms of Lord Palmerston's comment here: "[I]t is a narrow policy to suppose that this country or that is to be marked out as the eternal ally or the perpetual enemy of England. We have no eternal allies, and we have no perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual, and those interests it is our duty to follow."

which so happens - by its very nature - tends to be most of the region outside of Israel. So, Turkey is no longer 'lonely'. But I'm sure the honeymoon won't last long.

Like the Incirlik Air Base. Or the new US missile shield radar against Iran. And Operation Gladio should bring an interesting welcome should erdogan go on a European speaking tour. He can kick it off in Italy.

You are threatening the Western civilization with building an alliance with Egypt, Iran, Syria, with redrawing your application for EU membership etc. And you hope that we will give you billions of USD if you don't. But this isn't going to work any more. Do what you want and be happy with your new life. Bon voyage.

#35- Iran has been an enemy for years. Turkey has been a friend, with much military and economic cooperation. And their reasoning is totally unreasonable. #37- Your statement says it all. Would the US apologize if they acted responsibly and within the law? [Isreali soldiers killed terrorist thugs in self-defense. The "international waters" bogeyman has been put to rest umpteen times; enforcing a blockade in international waters is LEGAL, no matter how much you wish it were not.]

I was under the impression that Turks were different. They were MERT as you say who stood up for their friends and would never back stab a friend. It looks like the new generation is no longer like that (I lived in Turkey between 1950 and 1980 when it was different). Now you would sell your friends for any small interest, even the friend who supported you in Cyprus, helped lifting the crippling US embargo of 1974 and many other issues. You know very well that in Turkish this is called Nankorluk. In this decade in Turkey Mertlik is out nankorluk is in. good to know.

Did the Israel government REALLY decide to isolate themselves as Davutoglu claims?I don't think so.As I recall it was the TURKISH government's decision to isolate Israel from itself.Israel carries on as ever. Effectively,the Turkish government has isolated itself from its last democratic 'friend' and is now scrambling around looking for new ones.Well,it cannot find any potential new friends that are actually democratic,so,it CLAIMS that they're democratic,even if they are not,like Egypt.After all,Turkey and Egypt are converging towards the same undemocratic position,so why not call it democracy if it suits its purpose. Listen and laugh.HA HA HA HA HA...!! THREE CHEERS FOR ISRAEL!!!

When muslims constantly try to delegitimatize Israel, and threaten to kick Israel's ass, you can expect harsh responses from talkbackers. It isn't hatred coming from posters, but anger and frustration towards you Jew haters. Your vile and hateful postings cloaked in civility and framed as innocent questions are as shallow and phony as the muslim desire for peace and co-existence

daze- Excellent post! TB #13: should have written #5, #7, not the thirty somethings.

Dear David as you see nankorluk is still visible during everyday's antiisraeli turkish speeches. Could you please inform me ,about the role of Israel during the 1974 turkish invasion in Cyprus?I know nothing ,except the help given to the survivors of Kocatepe by captain Reuven Pinhasi, from Mevuot Yam.(Even this is something I learned from your talkbacks and I appreciate it).Shalom and saol.

After the 1974 invasion UN voted for several resolutions against Turkey. Israel voted in favor of Turkey despite the fact that after the murder of Israeli ambassador Efraim Elrom by Turkish terrorists Turkey had cut relations with Israel. At that time Greece was supporting the PLO and giving refuge to PLO terrorists. In the 1980 ies Israel influenced the USA government to lift the embargo , approve loan guarantees. At that time I played a small role also. Kali Nichta

Dear David thank you for your information. What matters is the fact that now, both peoples and their leaderships realized the sources of trouble,and move towards facing it. I have visited Ismir many times, and feel sorry for the secular people who pay for this religious- led ,anti-Israeli hostility. However it is not surprising, since mr Davutoglu was mentioning in his book about strategic depth, that loosing ties with Israel, would help Turkiye to approach the Arab nation and increase her geostrategic gravity.Now we know what he was meaning.