Over the past several months, back-channel talks between Israel and Turkey that have primarily been mediated by the United States have been taking place in search of a compromise over the 2010 flotilla incident. Turkey has a deep interest in continuing the crisis with Israel, as it could help Turkey seem more credible in its pursuit to redefine its relationship with Israel and saturate the Middle East with its own influence. But Israel cannot afford diplomatic isolation from such a crisis. Israel needs Turkey far more than Turkey needs Israel, especially as Israel is encountering many problems on its borders. As it becomes increasingly reliant on Turkey to help manage conflicts in the Middle East — from Syria to Egypt to Iran — the United States will increasingly prioritize its relationship with Turkey over its relationship with Israel.
