Is Israel becoming isolated
by
İdris Bal*

Around the world, Jews were expelled from various countries and persecuted in a number of ways, including most notably at the hands of Hitler in the 20th century. As a result, people started to show pity, compassion and tolerance toward Jews as a victimized nation, which eventually led to the establishment and strengthening of Israel in the region. In other words, this victimization played and continues to play into the hands of Israel.

However, forgetful of its own suffering in the past, Israel started to persecute the Palestinians and did not hesitate to use excessive force and harm civilians. Yet, as a nation that is cognizant of oppression and genocide, shouldn't it have become more sensitive and more respectful toward people and have refrained from cruelty?

Harm around the world

Israel's excessive use of force is, in many respects, doing harm not only to other people, but also to itself and the Jewish Diaspora around the world, and this strategy has the potential of causing greater damage in the long run. Israel's policy of using excessive force and hurting and oppressing civilians empowers the radicals in Palestine, urging them to become more radical while disappointing the moderate and peaceful groups, converting them into radicals. This also discourages the people who believe in peace and cooperation in the Muslim world and makes Israel prone to ever-increasing criticism from Europe and the US. Clearly, this is a process in which Israel may eventually end up in greater isolation in the Middle East and around the world. Worse still, the Jewish Diaspora runs the risk of being adversely affected by this process.

Turkey has had its share of this process, and a troubled era has started in Turkish-Israeli relations. While Turkey, i.e., Israel's closest friend in the region, was trying to help Israel to settle its problems with Syria, ensure peace and contribute to peace in the region and around the world, Israel foiled its efforts by attacking Gaza and preferred conflict over peace. Moreover, these attacks came just after the Israeli prime minister's visit to Turkey. This being the case, Turkey concluded that Israel does not give a fig about Turkey but can easily humiliate Turkey in the international community. Consequently, Turkey started to question and criticize its polices toward Israel.

So, will Turkey and Israel be enemies from now on? Is it what Turkey and the Turkish nation want?

Turkey is a country that in the past welcomed Jews while many European nations expelled them. It is currently pursuing a policy of zero problems with neighbors and has discovered the power of cooperation. It is even trying to wipe the slate clean with Armenia while it runs the gauntlet of genocide claims, but Turkey does not have the luxury of losing its old friend, Israel, let alone turning it into an enemy. What, then, is the problem? The problem is with the Israeli policies that do not promote peace and resort to the excessive use of force, hurting its friends, or, with the radical elements inside Israel, that lead to the emergence of such policies.

Nothing could stop Israel from exhibiting the same attitude towards the US. Newly elected President Barack Obama was talking about wiping the slate clean with the Muslim world with an emphasis on peace in the Middle East. The US had just stepped in to re-initiate the peace process by encouraging both the Israelis and the Palestinians, but Israel had no qualms about undermining the process by announcing that it would start new construction in disputed East Jerusalem while US Vice President Biden was in Israel. This time, it was the US whose pride was hurt, and it started to seriously question its relations with Israel.

The fact that the Israeli prime minister did not attend the recent international nuclear security summit was not only meaningful in terms of US-Israeli relations but also implied an Israeli position that is harder than ever to defend in terms of nuclear weapons. While it urges the international community to take action in the face of the possibility of Iran obtaining nuclear weapons and even using them, Israel owns such weapons itself and does not abide by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which is a great contradiction. This is also a great contradiction both for the US and other countries. It is obvious that such global problems cannot be settled without resorting to the principles and practices that do no change from one country to another. In fact, lending unquestioning support to Israel is damaging the discourse, image and credibility of the US in the world.

The process that may lead to the greater isolation of Israel and that may prove unfavorable to the Jewish community around the world in the long run is not getting any unwavering support from the Jewish community. Israel should review the benefits and disadvantages of the excessive use of force and whether it seriously desires to have peace. It should also exercise more control over its radicals and take steps to ensure peace, mutual respect and tolerance, as the policies that hurt its friends will translate into greater isolation for itself. This is essential both for the settlement of the Palestinian issue and peace in the Middle East and around the world.