Once it appeared that Turkey, with its predominantly Muslim population, was not going to be admitted into the European Union, Ankara focused on consolidating its hegemony in the region. Hence the rigid response to Israel after the flotilla raid as well as the repudiation of Assad’s regime, which took place only after the Syrian leader refused to listen to Turkey’s advice to moderate his policy and stop oppressing the people.

The message is that Turkey’s neighbors must get used to the fact that it sees itself as a regional power to be reckoned with. They must respect it as such and should refrain from provoking it. Israel, then, may be facing a knotty challenge in regard to Turkey, but that doesn’t mean it is dealing with a country that is anti-Israel.

What it does mean is that there’s a new strongman in town; Turkey is no longer a negligible fringe state. Its economy is thriving and its ruling Justice and Development Party, with its Islamist roots, has succeeded in ensuring its supremacy over the traditionally secular Kemalist army.

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