This means that more than 1 million people who were married and probably had children had lost their lives after the US occupation. I do not count the hundreds of thousands of children and women who died. This is called a massacre, or genocide, or a crime against humanity.Until very recently, the Middle East meant “bombs, gunpowder and death.” Though the bloodshed in the region did not stop, it is obvious that a new process has started in the Middle East, the Balkans and the Caucasus. The Turkish-Armenian tension, the Turkish-Syrian tension, the Turkish-Greek tension, the Turkish-Russian tension, the Turkish-Bulgarian tension and even the Turkish-Iran tension are now being replaced with cooperation and friendship. Even if it is the world’s most chaotic geography, Iraq is trying to achieve peace in Iraq, and Turkey is playing an active role in this. Until very recently, Iraq had been a land of ongoing conflict and bombs with an uncertain future. Of course, it cannot be said that Iraq has fully achieved peace, but it is making great progress towards it.
Two issues remain unresolved in the Middle East: the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorism and the inhuman treatment of Gaza. It is high time that something be done in Middle East politics, built upon hatred and animosity. The Jews around the world must exert pressure on Israel because of what it did to the Palestinians in Gaza. This is very important for two reasons. First, Gaza is one of the main factors inciting anti-Semitism around the world. Second, it also nurtures the ideology of hatred in the Middle East.
I think Israel, instead of entering into a battle of statements with Turkey, should try to make use of Turkey’s increasing influence in the region. This would be more rational. Israel cites security as justification for keeping Gazans in inhumane conditions. They say attacks are launched from Gaza against Israel and that they keep them in isolation in order to protect themselves from these attacks. They not only isolate Gazans but also launch attacks against Gaza that would devastate everything there and kill everyone indiscriminately. If Israel is truly sincere in this matter, Turkey’s influence may put an end to violence there. Only Turkey can prevent Hamas or other Palestinian groups from launching attacks against Israel. But to this end, Israel should in the first place revise its Gaza policy and allow Gaza to become a livable place.
If Israel wants to ensure security for its citizens, then it should know how to take advantage of Turkey’s influence in the region. Otherwise, what Israel does in Gaza in a Middle East with decreasing tensions will become more noticeable by the Muslim world, and this will boost anti-Semitism. This should disturb Jewish associations and communities around the world the most, and so they should exert pressure on Israel to change its policies.
Turkey’s new political approach in the Middle East will also prove beneficial to Israel. Tension and hatred threaten the safety of Jews. Don’t you think that peace and dialogue-oriented policies will serve the Jews who are fearful of their lives the most?
I hope that Jews will become aware of this new situation.
