By Natasha Mozgovaya, Haaretz Correspondent , and Reuters
This is an interesting article because Turkey has been Israel's ally for many years. Turkey is a secular nation but most of its citizens are Muslim.There is a strong Islamic movement that has developed in the country.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with United States President Barack Obama in the White House on Monday to discuss the recent tensions between the two countries based on disagreements regarding their different outlooks on Middle East policies.
Obama said on Monday he believed Turkey could be an "important player" in moving Iran toward resolving disputes over its nuclear program.
Obama made the remarks to journalists after meeting with Erdogan at the White House.
A senior administration official said following the meeting with the Turkish premier that Ankara has been critical of Israel recently, but it is important that such a "key Middle East player, a predominantly Muslim country, have a strategic partnership with Israel, which they still do."
Tensions flared between the two countries in September after Turkey banned Israel from participating in a NATO air force drill. Ankara further strained relations last week when it refused to take off the air a television drama depicting Israeli soldiers killing Palestinian children.
The official said regarding the recent deterioration of the Israeli and Turkish relations that "to the extent that they return to the kind of relationship that they have previously had, which has been a very strong and cooperative relationship, they will be able to serve in the role that they seek to play in the region."
He added that if the countries do not "retain those ties, it's going to be harder for them to lead in the way they would like to lead."
Turkey has also recently argued against the U.S. proposed sanctions against Iran, saying that the country is not developing nuclear weapons, and that the countries which have demanded of Iran to dismantle its nuclear plant, should themselves give up their own nuclear programs.
Erdogan also referred to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as "a friend."
The U.S. official said following their meeting that they have a problem with Turkey reaching out to Iran "and they can only play that potential role, useful role, if their message is consistent with that of the rest of the international community and ours, which is that we want to engage Iran."
Turkey has also denied a U.S. request to transfer more Turkish troops to Afghanistan, were they already have 1750 soldiers stationed.
source: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1133404.html
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