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Source: http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/it-s-not-the-same-turkey-1.330695
Israel Is a Victim of Turkey's Transformation
(Ha'aretz) Michael Herzog - Turkey today is not the same Turkey we once knew. The country has experienced a major internal change, reflected in its foreign policy: From being a state loyal to NATO and a close friend of Israel's, Turkey has transformed into a country that follows an independent policy line - to the point of defying Western interests, flirting with radical forces and displaying hostility toward Israel. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has developed a policy doctrine motivated by economic aspirations and a political desire to make Turkey a dominant force in its historic region of influence (a kind of neo-Ottoman doctrine). This orientation provided the background by which Turkey took such steps as moving closer to Syria and Iran, voting in the UN Security Council against slapping Iran with sanctions, and opposing charges against the president of Sudan for murders in Darfur. Israel has been a natural victim of this Turkish transformation. Turkey now predicates its participation in NATO's missile defense programs upon Israel's not receiving relevant information. IDF Brig.-Gen. Michael Herzog (res.) is a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.