The Iranian Mehr News Agency reports with satisfaction that Turkey's actions of late - primarily its more critical stance towards Israel - signal a turn toward joining the ranks of the world's Islamic countries. Israel and Turkey exchanged ambassadors in 1992, and have enjoyed warm relations since then - except for the past few months. Former Foreign Ministry Director Alon Liel said last month that "until recently, on a scale of one to 10, [the relations] have been somewhere near 10, but now they have dropped a notch or two."
The Mehr report states that Turkey has now adopted certain stances that have "restored it to its natural home in the Islamic world," such as its recent downgrading of diplomatic relations with Israel, its support of the Palestinian Authority, and the hosting of the recent meeting of foreign ministers of member states of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC).
The report lauds the recent criticism launched against Israel by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "Erdogan's censure of the Israeli suppression of the Palestinian people caused Israel to recall its ambassador from Ankara to Tel Aviv," the report stated, adding, "The Zionist regime should have realized that Turkey would not put all of its eggs in Israel's basket."
The article also reasoned that since a Turkish politician was recently appointed secretary general of the OIC, Turkey feels a greater responsibility toward Muslim issues. "The more Turkey distances itself from Israel," concluded the report, "the closer it comes to its real family, the Islamic world."