WASHINGTON — At a moment of transition in the country’s history, the Turkish leadership is reaching out to the American Jewish community.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the leader of the incoming Justice and Development Party, known as the AKP, met with Jewish leaders here Tuesday to express gratitude for the support Turkey has received from the American Jewish community, and to emphasize the bond between Israel and Turkey.
Erdogan’s meeting with the Jews came just before his meeting with President Bush, who had summoned the Turkish leader to try to convince him to back U.S. plans for a war against Iraq.
Turkey, for its part, is seeking U.S. — and Jewish — assistance in its long-sought bid to join the European Union.
Erdogan, through a translator, said he favored continuing the relationship between Israel and Turkey that was begun by his political predecessors.
He also said he would set no preconditions on that relationship and would support expanding it.
“I don’t find it adequate, the current economic and trade relationship we have with Israel,” Erdogan said to a group of some 10 Jewish officials at a meeting convened by the American Jewish Committee.
Military relations between the countries were not discussed, but Jewish leaders say it has remained solid.
The news is welcomed by the Jewish world, initially concerned about the election of a party with Islamic roots in a country founded on democratic, secular principles.
“Those who say nothing has changed are wrong,” said Barry Jacobs, director of strategic strategies for the American Jewish Committee, who attended the meeting.
“He has an Islamist constituency, but nevertheless, he has a reason to preserve this relationship.”
Turkey, a NATO member and close ally of the United States, is seen as an important asset to Israel in the Middle East.
Turkey serves as both a bridge to other Muslim states in the region and as a strategic counterbalance to countries such as Syria, Lebanon, Iran and Iraq.
Israel has provided weapons to Turkey, which has had problems obtaining them from the United States because of congressional ties to Turkey’s foes, the Armenian and Greek communities.
In exchange, Israel has garnered one of its few true allies in the region, as well as air space and a trading partner.
“Israel gets an Islamic partner, a Muslim partner, that even in the height of the intifada, Ariel Sharon could still pay a state visit to,” Jacobs said.