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Last update - 01:45 11/01/2009 Where have our friends gone? By Zvi Ba'rel ed and insulted. Turkish sources say Erdogan's campaign of insults against Israel in recent weeks is a reaction to this. "Israel is the biggest provoker of terror in the world," the Turkish justice minister accused. Erdogan no longer wants to talk to Olmert, ties between Ankara and the Israeli ambassador have been cut off, an Israeli basketball team was attacked by fans in Ankara and Israeli tourists are advised to hold off on trips to Turkey. "Being in Ankara feels like being in a hostile Arab country," an Israeli official stationed in Turkey told Haaretz. In Jordan, Prime Minister Nader al-Dahabi gave a speech in parliament asking to "re-evaluate ties between Israel and Jordan," the first time this has happened since the two countries made peace. No denials or corrections were issued. "Jordan and Israel have important mutual interests," an Israeli foreign ministry official said indifferently. Do they? Does that argument take into account Jordan's delicate position regarding the Palestinians, Hamas or its general public? How does that official respond to the Jordanian ambassador's return to Amman? Advertisement Qatar, which is on the list of moderate countries, still allows in Israeli representatives and holds talks with Israel, but it is now closer to the Syrian-Iranian axis than the Saudi-Egyptian one. Of all the cease-fire initiatives, Qatar favors the one by Syria, which supports Hamas. Qatar favors this over the Egyptian proposal. Saudi Arabia, another moderate, has started to talk about "turning its back" to its peace initiative unless the international community stops Israel. Just three weeks ago the regional leaders were euphoric. Turkey spoke about continuing mediation between Israel and Syria, and its president was about to visit Jerusalem; Syria talked about direct negotiations with Israel; Jordan was steadfast in its traditional position of guaranteed friendship with Israel; the foreign ministers of Qatar and Israel acted like best buddies; and Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal said his country had no intention of abandoning the Saudi peace initiative just because the Israeli right was benefiting from it. Such scenes have disappeared. Even our friendly partner, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, has cut his ties. Israel is again in a familiar situation: a threatened state, not speaking to any of its neighbors and not willing for anyone to waste its time with talks. Short-term tactics - that's all Israel is capable of. On the issue of relations with Turkey? They'll need us when the U.S. Congress debates the massacres of the Armenians. Upset Jordanians? They get water from us and signed a free trade agreement with the United States thanks to us. Qatar? It leans on our U.S. ally for support. Now it wants to join the axis of evil? And Syria too is turning its back on us? We've told everyone there is no partner for peace. Our key industry is war, not peace or talks with our neighbors. We want only want Arabs as enemies. For a moment it seemed like we convinced ourselves that ties with the Arabs were not important until it turned out we needed Egypt's help to solve our "problems" with Hamas, and that Qatar helped solve the crisis in Lebanon. And Jordan is able to keep the border safe and until only recently we wanted so badly to meet with the Saudi king. And there's one more small, pestering problem keeping us from enjoying our indifference toward our neighbors. Who has gained so far from the situation? So far it is Hamas, which can claim to have undermined greatly Israel's ties with Turkey, Jordan and Qatar. And it has only just begun. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Still kicking Hamas says won't accept Israel's Gaza cease-fire demands. Turkish dislike Turkish PM Erdogan calls for UN to ban Israel over Gaza offensive.   1.   What about Darfur and Armenian genocide? 16:39  |  Alex 11/01/09   2.   A Friend In Need Is a Friend Indeed 16:44  |  massaraksh 11/01/09   3.   The USA, an ally 17:07  |  Anonymous 11/01/09   4.   Our Friends 17:40  |  Yasar 11/01/09   5.   turkey is not friend of israel 18:11  |  tarık sezgin 11/01/09   6.   never accept terrorism of israel 18:12  |  tarık 11/01/09   7.   Paid prop worker Barel,Turkey doesn`t shy from incursions into Ir 19:05  |  Absolute Sweden 11/01/09   8.   Turkey is an ally of Isreal...BUT 08:49  |  nyoped 12/01/09   9.   Gaza 23:18  |  Mehmet 13/01/09

Read & React Hamas vows revenge after IDF kills Gaza Interior Minister Said Sayyam Responses: 63 Harel & Issacharoff: Would a weak Hamas or no Hamas be better in Gaza? Responses: 31 A.B. Yehoshua: An open letter to Gideon Levy on his absurd comparisons Responses: 47 Bradley Burston: In Gaza's shadow / Obama's inaugural message Responses: 15 Palestinian sources: IDF has destroyed the 'Iranian unit' of Hamas Responses: 18 Editorial: Although it's too late, end the war in Gaza now Responses: 21 More Headlines 00:31 Cabinet to vote Saturday on unilateral Gaza truce 00:38 U.S., Israel sign pact to battle Iran arms smuggling into Gaza 00:46 Hamas: We will not accept Israel's demands for Gaza cease-fire 00:54 Israel hopes to achieve 'durable quiet' as Gaza op winds down 00:58 Pregnant woman hospitalized as Gaza rocket hits Ashkelon home 01:08 Turkish PM Erdogan: Bar Israel from UN over Gaza offensive 15:49 Palestinian killed, IDF soldier hurt in West Bank protest against Gaza operation 09:47 ANALYSIS / Would a weak Hamas or no Hamas be better in Gaza? 01:19 Palestinian sources: Teenager among four killed by IAF in Gaza 13:28 Is Israel using illegal weapons in its offensive on Gaza? 01:22 Text of U.S.-Israel agreement to end Gaza arms smuggling 17:59 Palestinian sources: 'Iran unit' of Hamas has been destroyed 19:42 Qatar breaks off relations with Israel over Gaza operation 13:40 Hamas vows revenge after IDF kills Gaza Interior Minister Said Sayyam 00:45 PROFILE / Slain Hamas minister was key figure in '07 Gaza coup 09:21 An open letter to Gideon Levy 08:19 Inquiries show Olmert version of UN Gaza vote spat closer to truth than Rice's 08:57 Gideon Levy / Someone must stop Israel's rampant madness in Gaza 05:34 Gaza campaign is war against Amalek, says Chief Rabbi of Safed 08:21 Ari Shavit / Gaza op may be squeezing Hamas, but it's destroying Israel's soul Previous Editions Select Day 16 jan 15 jan 14 jan 13 jan 12 jan 11 jan 09 jan 08 jan 07 jan 06 jan 05 jan 04 jan

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