“It looks like we are watching a completely different game” – Kommersant FM

All Israeli diplomats left Turkish territory on October 19. A source in Ankara told RIA Novosti about this. Earlier, the Israeli Foreign Ministry announced that its representatives in Turkey should return home. This is how the department responded to the words of Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a rally on October 28 in Istanbul. The President promised Israel loneliness and threatened a war of the “cross and crescent.” Erdogan noted that his country is “filled with the same determination as in Libya and Karabakh.” Kommersant FM columnist Mikhail Gurevich believes that the words of the Turkish President did not surprise Israel.

On October 28, 1.5 million people gathered on the territory of Istanbul Ataturk Airport with Turkish and Palestinian flags. In his speech, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the West of double standards, declared Israel a war criminal and said that Turkey would not just leave it.

The event turned out to be significant in every sense. Last weekend, the country celebrated the 100th anniversary of the proclamation of the Turkish Republic, a secular state that arose on the site of the former metropolis of the Ottoman Empire. The country prepared so-so for the anniversary. The economic crisis, galloping inflation, corruption and the difficulties of recovery after the recent earthquake – it’s hard to be proud of such a set.

Perhaps that is why, instead of celebrating, the authorities preferred to remember the narratives of the empire from the ruins of which Turkey emerged. Gaza, Israel and many other countries are perceived in modern Turkey as the post-Soviet space in Russia. Like, they are all, of course, independent, but we must not forget how more than 100 years ago everyone lived in harmony under the rule of the Sultan. And if they are having problems now, then Ankara should intervene.

Erdogan has so far touched on this topic carefully, speaking only about “a common position on Libya, Karabakh and the Middle East,” but his political allies openly propose sending the army to Gaza.

Considering Tehran’s equally bellicose statements, the question arises: won’t Israel’s current war with Hamas lead to a regional, and then, lo and behold, a world war? The Americans, British and Chinese are already present in the waters of the Eastern Mediterranean, and there is a Russian Aerospace Forces base in Syria. We can say that all the key players are assembled, and it’s time to start. But still, it seems that we are witnessing a completely different game, the result of which will not be a battle of all against all, but another attempt to resolve the dispute between the three main Islamic players.

Traditionally, Turkey, Iran and Saudi Arabia fight for leadership in the Islamic world. The first country has lost its throne, the second is a Shia minority, and the third is good for everyone, but does not have a strong army. Solving the Gaza Strip problem could be a serious bid for victory for them. After all, as you know, the Palestinian issue is almost the only thing that unites the Muslim world.

It is, of course, beneficial for Iran to leave everything as it is. His strategy is chaos and support of various kinds of terrorist groups. But the Turks and Saudis would be happy to act as organizers and guarantors of a prosperous Gaza. These claims explain Erdogan’s threats. And in Israel they understand this very well.

Ankara only made peace with Tel Aviv three years ago after 12 years of quarrel. Relations were frozen, but trade turnover grew at an accelerated pace. Therefore, the words of the Turkish President at the rally cause offense among the Israelis, but not surprise. Middle Eastern politicians often speak in “keep me seven” mode. Could this tradition lead to a world war? Yes, things happened. Remember one shot in Sarajevo, which, among other things, destroyed the Ottoman Empire.

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