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Turkey-Israel honeymoon over

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  • Turkey-Israel honeymoon over

    Honeymoon is over

    Turkish-Israeli ties in danger unless trust building measures promptly implemented

    Haymi Behar Published: 03.01.09, 12:47 / Israel Opinion

    The Turkish-Israeli honeymoon has ended. From the 90s up until recent times Israelis flocked to Turkey, while economic and military ties flourished. Yet today, following Turkey’s harsh criticism of the Israeli offensive in Gaza, angry Israelis canceled more than 70% of travel bookings to Turkey. In any case, they wouldn’t feel so welcomed in many Turkish shops, which displayed signs expressing anti-Israeli sentiments.

    Israel’s Cast Lead operation triggered an unprecedented wave of widespread criticism across Turkey. Solidarity with the suffering fellow Muslim in Gaza, combined with difficult images of civilian casualties led the crowds to the streets in mass protests. Yet accusations did not stop at “disproportionate use of force” by Israel. Rather, demonstrations held in almost every city often turned anti-Semitic in tone, as hordes chanted “Death to Israel, down with the Zionists.”

    Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan assured xxxish citizens of Turkey that no one would dare harm them. However, support for Hamas positions only added to the rhetoric used by protesters, culminating in hate speech. In recent years, anti-Semitism in Turkey reached unprecedented levels. The PEW’s polling center recently published shocking results on the rise of animosity towards xxxs in traditionally tolerant Anatolian culture. According to the research, 76% of Turks hold negative views about xxxs and do not wish to be their neighbors. In 2004, 49% expressed this view.

    The ever strengthening Islamic media’s criticism of Israel often turned to demonizing xxxs as a whole, referring to them in one case as “blood sucking vampires.” Pro-government media deemed the Gaza operation genocide and a crime against humanity. Those same media outlets kept silent when Sudan’s vice president visited Turkey around the same time.

    President Abdullah Gul was quick to denounce the racist jargon against xxxs. Nevertheless, even in Kayseri, the birthplace of the president, a schoolteacher distributed lokhum (Turkish delight) in the city center to honor the memory of Adolf Hitler, recounting to bystanders his dream about the notorious Nazi leader. Disturbingly enough, no legal action was taken against the schoolteacher, symptomatic of the inaction by the state against hate speech.


    Genuine effort necessary

    Turkey and Israel, two American allies in the region, enjoyed rapid rapprochement during the post-Cold War era in the absence of the Soviet threat. This period ended on September 11, effectively putting the two countries on different sides of the “clash of civilizations.” Today, as Turkey leans more towards social conservatism and Israel to the nationalist Right, question marks loom over the future of the special relations between the countries.

    Social conservatism in the Middle East divides civilizations based on religion. As Bernard Lewis frequently pointed out, the Muslim perception of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is fundamentally a religious one. Increasingly, Turkish public opinion views the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in this light. Animosity against xxxs reached such high levels that in case that a Turkish government decides one day to cut diplomatic ties with Israel, it will have wide public backing. Unless trust-building steps are taken promptly, every new round of fighting between Israelis and Palestinians will cause Turkish-Israeli relations to further deteriorate.

    Genuine effort is necessary to repair the damage done to the relations. To start with, both countries need to limit harmful public criticism. Turkey was deeply disappointed by Israeli unwillingness to implement several economic projects that will contribute to the livelihood of the Palestinians and enhance the peace process. Israel needs to engage Turkey more by implementing the Erez Industrial Zone and “Peace hospital” projects. Both plans, which were jointly agreed upon, did not materialize largely due to Israel’s foot dragging. If US President Barack Obama does not want the two countries’ relations to deteriorate on his watch, he would do well to oversee the implementation of such projects.

    Meanwhile, the Turkish government’s commitment to denouncing anti-Semitism is encouraging. However, Turkey needs to enforce legal action against the ever-growing hate speech in local media that fuels hatred not only against Israel, but also towards xxxish people in general.

    Haymi Behar is a columnist and foreign news editor for Turkish-xxxish weekly Shalom

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  • #2
    Re: Turkey-Israel honeymoon over

    Well, it looks like we've come full circle...



    Originally posted by Alexandros View Post

    Israel’s Cast Lead operation triggered an unprecedented wave of widespread criticism across Turkey. Solidarity with the suffering fellow Muslim in Gaza, combined with difficult images of civilian casualties led the crowds to the streets in mass protests. Yet accusations did not stop at “disproportionate use of force” by Israel.
    Hello pot, meet kettle. Turkey, of all people, is accusing another nation of using "disproportionate force" against an insurgency or rebellion? And over images of civilian casualties? You f*cking hypocrites.



    Originally posted by Alexandros View Post
    In recent years, anti-Semitism in Turkey reached unprecedented levels. The PEW’s polling center recently published shocking results on the rise of animosity towards xxxs in traditionally tolerant Anatolian culture.
    What the hell is this guy talking about? Turkey has neither been traditionally tolerant, nor an "Anatolian culture". In fact, they only OBTAINED their Anatolian traits because of their brutality towards traditionally Anatolian cultures.



    Originally posted by Alexandros View Post
    Pro-government media deemed the Gaza operation genocide and a crime against humanity.
    Oh that's just rich. I'd like to see how they came to the conclusion that this fits the definition of genocide, but not what the Turks did to the Armenians.



    Originally posted by Alexandros View Post
    As Bernard Lewis frequently pointed out, the Muslim perception of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is fundamentally a religious one.
    Ever the Zionist, eh assh0le?



    I don't know what's going to become of all this, but the deterioration of relations between these two countries is a plus in my book. Their unholy matrimony has caused a great deal of damage, not just to the Armenians, but many nations/cultures.

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Turkey-Israel honeymoon over

      Given the US is much more pro-Israel than pro-Turkey, this little feud might be a good excuse for Israel to give the US the green light to slap Turkey in the face with the G word
      this post = teh win.

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Turkey-Israel honeymoon over

        Originally posted by jameswillow
        Turkey has been allied with israel since the state was founded.turkey is a supporter of israel,they have good realtions.

        The other defining aspect of Turkey's foreign relations has been its ties with the United States. Based on the common threat posed by the Soviet Union, Turkey joined NATO in 1952, ensuring close bilateral relations with Washington throughout the Cold War. In the post-Cold War environment, Turkey's geostrategic importance shifted towards its proximity to the volatile Arab world. As well as hosting an important NATO air base near the Turkish border with Syria and Iraq for U.S. operations in the region, Turkey's status as a secular democracy and its positive relations with Israel made Ankara a crucial ally for Washington. In return, Turkey has benefited from the United States' political, economic and diplomatic support, including in key issues such as the country's bid to join the European Union.
        I like Obadiah Shoher. I visit his blog from time to time.
        B0zkurt Hunter

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