Can the Israeli status quo model help post-February 28 Turkey solve its problems?

Article abstract:

As a result of the February 28, 1997 incident, Islamist parties have been ostracised and excluded from governmental politics. This has caused serious legitimacy, participation, and representation crises in the Turkish polity. This study examines whether the Justice and Development Party's (Adalet ve Kalknma Partisi - AKP) landslide victory in the November 2002 elections has put an end to the February 28 Process. It also suggests that further liberalisation of the Turkish regime will be possible only if the religious and secular parties come together and agree on the rules for future engagement. Thus, with reference to President Inönü's July 12 Declaration and the Israeli status quo model of 1947, this essay attempts to sketch out these rules of engagement.