Civil society calls for suspension of relations with Israel

Turkish civil society groups say the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government should take action to make Israeli authorities pay the price for the violent assault.

“All diplomatic relations with Israel should be stopped so that it will be forced to grow lonelier in the world. In addition, all defense treaties Turkey has signed with Israel in the past should immediately be cancelled unilaterally,” read a statement released by the Kayseri branch of the Association of Human Rights and Solidarity for Oppressed Peoples (MAZLUM-DER).

A convoy of six boats was taking humanitarian aid and hundreds of activists to Gaza early Monday when it was attacked by Israeli naval commandos in international waters. Soldiers opened fire on the activists, killing nine and injuring many. Most of the injured were Turkish citizens. Israeli sources also announced that 360 Turks had been arrested in the raid.

“We could not receive information related to the Israeli violence after Israel blocked the servers of Turkish satellite telecommunications and cable TV service provider Türksat in the region. Turkey should cancel its satellite and communications treaties with Israel,” the statement said, adding that Turkish authorities should pressure world leaders to impose diplomatic sanctions on Israel.

Humanitarian Aid Foundation (İHH) Vice Chairman Ömer Faruk Korkmaz called on the Turkish nation to show its reaction to the Israeli violence by boycotting Israeli goods.

“The aid convoy set off to take humanitarian aid to our brothers [in Palestine]. They were traveling on a civilian boat and were happy to be on the way to take aid to people in a war-stricken region. But they were not aware of a point: The fascist and Zionist state did not know at all what aid and solidarity meant. That state did not understand what civilian activists were trying to do because that state has been torturing people since the very day it was established,” Korkmaz said.

Numan Şeker, Bursa provincial chairman of the Civil Servants’ Trade Union (Memur-Sen), joined İHH calls for a boycott of Israeli goods to show the anger of the Turkish nation against the disproportionate use of power against unarmed activists.

“Europe, which stands up for seals that are going extinct, is silent in the face of a humanitarian tragedy in Palestine. It would not be sufficient to say, ‘One Minute!’ to Israel. We should boycott Israeli goods. We should not forget that every Israeli product we have purchased was used as a bullet against our friends on the aid ships,” Şeker said.

Şeker also said that an economic boycott would be insufficient, asserting that Turkey should suspend diplomatic relations with Israel, which could include the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador to Ankara.

Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON) Chairman Rızanur Meral said Turkey would probably resort to placing economic sanctions on Israel as a result of the growing tension between the two countries.

“Economic power is the most advantageous and effective tool in inter-country relations. I believe economic sanctions will help normalize Turkey’s ties with Israel. But I do not think Turkey will cut its economic relations with Israel permanently. If that happens, Israel will end up as the loser. But as a result of the nature of the business world, economic relations between Turkey and Israel will soon normalize,” Meral commented.

In addition, Consumers Union President Nazım Kaya invited Turkish citizens to boycott Israeli-produced goods and services provided by Israeli companies. He also said his union was preparing to launch a campaign, dubbed “We will not provide munitions.”

“This campaign will be the harshest response to the terrorist state of Israel. As Turkey’s consumers, we should use our economic power. We should reach the success economic sanctions will bring us. No other sanctions can bring more success,” he said.

Turkey’s leading business associations, including the Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen’s Association (TÜSİAD), the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen’s Association (MÜSİAD) and the İstanbul Chamber of Commerce (İTO), denounced the Israeli aggression in strongly worded statements but did not mention whether they were pondering re-evaluating their economic ties with the country.