President Isaac Herzog's visit to Greece was the right step taken in the wrong way. Herzog was set to arrive in Athens, Thursday. After Greece, he will arrive in Nicosia to clarify to our important Greek and Cypriot friends Israel's rapprochement with Turkey will not come at their expense.
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Although the message is the right one, it's a little late. These visits to Greece and Cyprus were only organized after officials in Jerusalem came to understand the immense pressure on those countries, the result of the process to thaw ties between Israel and Turkey, the enemy of both countries throughout history. They built an alliance with Israel over a decade and have grown increasingly closer to the Jewish state. Yet all it took was one smile from the Turkish sultan for Israel to stop running into their arms. They are now questioning whether they can count on Israel, and rightfully so. Jerusalem, meanwhile, has repeatedly emphasized improved ties with Ankara will not come at Athens' and Nicosia's expense.
While the emphasis is important, the fervor with which Israel's rapprochement with Turkey is being conducted is raising doubts as to whether this is truly the case. No one disputes the fact that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is uncontrollable, volatile, and antisemitic. He is now courting Herzog due to the serious foreign and domestic difficulties he now faces.
Egypt and Saudi Arabia, but also the United States, are also at odds with Erdogan. That being the case, why would Israel pay the highest price – a visit by Israel's No.1 citizen to a fairly problematic country - when it remains unclear what exactly we will get in return. Are there no interim steps that can be taken? Aren't measured, confidence-building steps preferable to a visit from the Israeli president?
Israel must prioritize Greece and Cyprus over Turkey. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Greece and Cyprus are stable, friendly, and moral partners – none of which can be said of Erdogan.
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