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2/2/10

Rising Turkey Versus Receding Arabs - by Khalid Amayreh

While most Arab states are basking in their impotence and bickering amongst themselves over a long list of issues, Turkey is slowly, but definitely, asserting itself as a leading power in the Middle East, besides Israel and Iran.

Turkey, especially under the rule of Justice and Development Party (AKP) has been taking, and continues, to take strident steps in expanding its influence eastward, effectively grooming itself for the auspicious title of the leading state in the Sunni Muslim world. The Turks are filling a certain psychological-strategic vacuum in the Middle East, especially the Arab region. To be sure, this vacuum was created mostly as a result of the receding influence of traditional Arab powers, such as Egypt, which has become very much a stagnant, non-aspiring entity, thanks to its crippling subservience to the US.

While carefully maintaining relations with Israel, for certain practical necessities, Erdogan has made it blatantly clear to the leaders of Israeli that the future of Turkey's relations with the Jewish state would very much depend on Israeli behavior, especially toward Palestinians.

For more: Rising Turkey Versus Receding Arabs - IslamOnline.net - Politics in Depth

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