Hakob Chakryan, specialist in Turkish studies, says that the Turkish-Israeli crisis gives Turkey an opportunity to raise its role and reputation in the region, especially in the Arab, Muslim world. According to him, Armenia must view the worsening of the two countries’ relations from this perspective, and does not consider it to be an opportunity for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the Knesset of Israel.

The Turkish-Israeli tension, worsening from time to time, reached its climax on May 31, when Turkish cruise liner Mavi Marmara (as part of pro-Palestinian shipment) bound for the Gaza Strip was seized by Israel in a raid that killed 9. Israel justifies its action, saying that the “freedom flotilla” was a provocation.

On June 2, Israel set all the foreigners on board free, even though Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu had previously announced that Israel would not set the captives free, and would not remove the blockade of the Gaza Strip as long as “Hamas extremist group is ruling in the Gaza Strip.”

Chakryan says Israel will not make concessions to Turkey, the latter of which “simply makes noise to attract international attention.”

According to the Turkologist, the Turkish-Israeli crisis removed the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations from the political agenda of Turkey; and the anti-Semite moods among the Turkish public will later result in more serious tension between the two countries.