By Boaz Bismuth, Israel Hayom—
On Oct. 21, the Turkish paper Sabah reported that an extensive operation by Turkish security forces had resulted in the arrest of 15 Mossad agents. The surprising report didn’t upset us especially, since it was clear that it wasn’t the most reliable article of the year. But the report should have been a warning light. Israel didn’t respond, rightfully, but Turkey should have been expected to. Ankara couldn’t ignore a story like that, especially one that ran in a newspaper identified with the regime.
On Oct. 21, the Turkish paper Sabah reported that an extensive operation by Turkish security forces had resulted in the arrest of 15 Mossad agents. The surprising report didn’t upset us especially, since it was clear that it wasn’t the most reliable article of the year. But the report should have been a warning light. Israel didn’t respond, rightfully, but Turkey should have been expected to. Ankara couldn’t ignore a story like that, especially one that ran in a newspaper identified with the regime.
President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, and Mossad Director David Barnea successfully navigated their first crisis. Not everything is about position – there is also a need to calm things down. The government can be praised when it succeeds. The country belongs to all of us. Everyone wondered what Erdogan got. Some say the Turkish president wants someone to listen to him and received a phone call with President Herzog. In a difficult time for Erdogan’s Turkey, which went too far in adopting political Islam, a happy ending like this one gives it credit in the international community.
Turkey, which is engulfed in a major economic crisis and dealing with a difficult PR problem, is looking to improve its public relations. It doesn’t cost us much, and for Turkey, it’s worth its weight in gold. It’s too bad that the Oknins didn’t know that their all-inclusive trip would include spending eight days behind bars. Thank God, they made it home.
The banality of the relations
This week, I returned to the United Arab Emirates after I hadn’t been there for a long time. The last time I was there was in January 2010. Since then, plenty of water has flown under the bridge, even if, apparently, not enough. This time, I entered the country on an Israeli passport for the first time. What a difference. No longer on a French passport that allowed me into Iraq during the Gulf War via Qatar, Kuwait, and most enjoyably, the Emirates. The Abraham Accords have made the Israeli passport not only relevant in the Gulf, but into a friendly and even sought-after one. Continue Reading…
