Turkey, well known as a secular Muslim country (as demonstrated in its secular Constitution) is striving to maintain a good relationship with the United States, while also staying on good terms with both Israeli and Jewish Lobbyists. Accordingly, it has recently made moves to strengthen its weakened alliance with Israel. The alliance benefited from a time when both militaries were of the utmost importance and Israel was updating Turkey’s tank and jet divisions. Now that military trade has fallen off, the once high of 20 military agreements keeping Israel and Turkey as strong allies has withered.
Israeli defense minister Ehud Barak met with Turkish foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu for 3 1/2 hours after what may have been the lowest point in Israel’s and Turkey’s relationship, when Israel’s deputy foreign minister Danny Ayalaon said he intentionally humiliated Turkey’s ambassador on television.
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