The government's risky move, which jeopardized peace talks with Syria, involved greater risks that would cause tension between Israel and Erdoğan; the fact that this move was made deliberately despite these risks shows that Israeli domestic politics is not ready for a comprehensive peace framework. Benjamin Netanyahu's probable election victory will confirm the lack of eagerness in Israel for peace; it is also difficult to speak of a strong desire of the government for lasting peace. A lasting peace process requires some radical changes in Israel. A lasting peace process that would involve peace with Syria and Israel's withdrawal from the zones it occupied in 1967 would also include evacuation of the settlements constructed in the aftermath of the occupation. So, it is not an easy task. It will not be easy for Israel to confirm such a process without getting rid of the bonds knitted by Israeli radicals. For this reason, the Olmert-Barak coalition jeopardized the fate of peace talks and ignored the progress made so far by entering Gaza; the government put all the blame on radical Hamas to free itself from responsibility.
Of course, Hamas is a barrier before a lasting peace process. Radical actors like Hamas are organizations generated by the violent environment and constant warfare. Even though Israel's last action in Gaza seriously undermined the organization's military ability, it is obvious that it will reinforce its position and strength in the aftermath of this operation. Hamas and other similar actors may lose their impact only during peace processes. For this reason, the isolation policy vis-à-vis Palestine and Gaza should be ended and measures should be taken for the economic development of the region and consolidation of democratic institutions. Likewise, countries like Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt should take steps to make sure that the Palestinian populations in their countries are adequately integrated into society. The camps and settlements where the Palestinians live should not remain generators of suicide bombers any longer; to this end, proper measures should be taken to prevent radical tendencies among these settlers. Maintaining the hopes of hundreds of thousands of people about a return to their homelands is one major source of current radicalism among organizations like Hamas. However, it seems impossible that Syria, Lebanon and other Arab countries would start their integration policies without seeing actual and promising steps towards lasting peace. For this reason, Israel should take the first step and move toward lasting peace and a solution. This should include withdrawal from the territories occupied in 1967, readiness for peace with Syria and rapprochement with countries like Turkey that would be able to serve as mediators. Elections and post-election developments in Israel will provide clues with respect to this issue.
However, the latest developments demonstrate that the infrastructure for peace in Palestine is now more visible and solid after Obama taking office in the US. Engagement of the US in the peace process is a positive development for Turkey's political goals. Turkey's mediation role was a mission impossible whose fulfillment was pretty unlikely without the visible support and backing of the US and the EU. A lasting peace process is possible only if Syria parts its ways with Iran and nears itself to the West. Turkey, a country that is engaged in membership talks with the EU, is more attractive than Iran for Syria because of its potential. Turkey will be the country that will benefit most from the peace process in the region.
[*] Ali Yurttagül is a political advisor for the Greens in the European Parliament.
