UPDATE 2-Turkey: navy may escort exploration ships off Cyprus

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* Cyprus says Turkey's threat "unacceptable"

* EU calls on both sides to show restraint

* Tensions in Eastern Med follows Turkey-Israel row (Adds Cyprus spokesman's quotes, analysts, background)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/19/turkey-cyprus-idUSL5E7KJ11H20110919

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1. Turkey talks up Egyptian alliance

ANKARA: A newly assertive Turkey has offered a vision of a starkly realigned Middle East, in which the country's former allies in Syria and Israel fall into deeper isolation, and a burgeoning alliance with Egypt underpins a new order in a region roiled by revolution.

The portrait was described in an hour-long interview on Sunday with the Foreign Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, before he was to leave for the United Nations, where a contentious debate is expected this week over a bid for the recognition of a Palestinian state. Seen by many as the architect of a foreign policy that has made Turkey one of the most relevant players in the Muslim world, Mr Davutoglu pointed to that issue and others to describe a region that was in the midst of a transformation. Turkey, he said, was ''right at the centre of everything''.

He declared Israel was solely responsible for the near collapse in relations with Turkey, once an ally, and he accused Syria's President of lying to him after Turkish officials offered the government there a ''last chance'' to salvage power by halting its brutal crackdown on dissent.

Strikingly, he predicted a partnership between Turkey and Egypt, two of the region's militarily strongest and most populous and influential countries, that he believed could create a new axis of power at a time when US influence in the Middle East seems to be diminishing.

http://www.smh.com.au/world/turkey-talks-up-egyptian-alliance-20110919-1khyq.html

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2. Israel to withdraw police representative in Turkey

Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch announced Monday that Israel will withdraw its police representative in Turkey following the deepening crisis between Jerusalem and Ankara.

"Lately, there have not been working relations between the police representative and the Turks. In addition, we are concerned for the safety of the representative and as such he will be transferred in the coming days," said Aharonovitch.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israel-to-withdraw-police-representative-in-turkey-1.385341

[ProgressiveProfessor]

3. The entire episode with Israel is in many ways an intentional distraction

Turkey still occupies part of Cyprus...no call for sanctions and ouster.

Now it wants to be allowed to explore/drill for gas in waters not its own.

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4. Probably, although I think the Turks reallly are annoyed.

I suspect they are annoyed with the EU and Uncle Sugar too. I have wondered if the fact that the EU doesn't look all that much worth joining may be part of the decision to strike out in this new direction, and given the long-standing antagonism between Turkey and Greece, maybe they just said to hell with that. But so far nobody appears to intend more than long-range mouth-fighting.

[Swede]

5. Why isn't everyone screaming "It's about oil!" ?

Strange.

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6. Op-Ed: It’s time to stand up to Erdogan

WASHINGTON (JTA) -- When Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses the United Nations this week, he likely will repeat his demand that the world body “raise the Palestinian flag” without acknowledging that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas refuses to negotiate with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas leaders still call for the destruction of Israel.

For the first time since becoming a republic in 1923, Turkey has decided to become an active regional player. The decision to stretch its legs is made possible in no small part by a shrunken American footprint in the eastern Mediterranean.

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Whatever one thinks of President Obama’s handling of U.S.-Israel relations up through this spring, his administration deserves credit for rallying opposition to Abbas’ U.N. scheme.

Obama also needs to be firm with Erdogan. While the United States recognizes Turkey’s enhanced standing in a volatile region, he should be reminded that “with great power there must also come great responsibility.” And if Erdogan carries out the once unthinkable idea of forcing America to choose between its two strategic allies in the region, the White House must send a clear signal that the Turkish leader will be the big loser.

http://www.jta.org/news/article/2011/09/19/3089463/op-ed-its-time-to-stand-up-to-erdogan

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7. Clinton urges Turkey to 'keep door open' for ties with Israel

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Turkey to "keep the door open" to better ties with Israel, a U.S. official said on Monday, seeking to prevent relations between two U.S. allies from getting worse.

"She encouraged Turkey to keep the door open," a senior U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity told reporters after Clinton met Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu for nearly an hour.

"We want to see them repair their relationship, so she encouraged them to avoid any steps that would close that door and, on the contrary, to actively seek ways that they can repair (their) important relationship with Israel," he added.

"The secretary made clear that this is not a time when we need more tension, more volatility in the region," said a second official, apparently referring to deteriorating Israeli ties with Egypt and Jordan and tensions with the Palestinians.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/clinton-urges-turkey-to-keep-door-open-for-ties-with-israel-1.385390