Erdogan and Israel: 17 years of secret relations

Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu has lashed out at Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, for criticizing him while trade relations between Turkey and Israel keep growing.

Erdogan uses the Palestinian issue to deceive the public in his country, even as Turkey was the first predominantly Muslim state to recognize the state of Israel.

Pragmatic as he always is, Erdogan shook hands with Ariel Sharon who carried out the Sabra and Shatila massacre in 2005.

Sharon welcomed Erdogan in Tel Aviv by saying: "Welcome in Israel's eternal capital".

Erdogan recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel on august 2016 in an agreement for normalizing relations with the self-proclaimed Jewish state. This came a year before U.S. President, Donald Trump recognized the same city as the capital of Israel.

The document for the normalization of relations between the two states contained the phrase: "This agreement was reached in Ankara and Jerusalem", thus reflecting the Turkish recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

The Turkish embassy in Tel Aviv host events that call for the normalization of relations with Israel. In 2004, Erdogan's government gave approval for holding a ceremony to commemorate the founder of the state of Israel, Theodor Herzl. The ceremony was held at the National Turkish Library.

America's and Israel's man

The Turkish president is ready to do anything to reach his own goals. By the same token, he is ready to hammer out deals with the devil to reach power.

He made terms with the Jewish lobby in Washington. Erdogan also opened communication channels with the former U.S. ambassador in Ankara.

Soon after he became the prime minister of Turkey, Erdogan approved the U.S. invasion of Iraq. His Justice and Development Party agreed to increase the size of American military bases in Turkey. The Turkish army joined the U.S. army in invading Iraq.