Der außenpolitische Kopf der regierenden AKP, der Abgeordnete Suat Kiniklioglu, fordert heute in der Herald Tribune eine offzielle Verurteilung Israels durch die USA, eine Bestrafung der Verantwortlichen in Israel – und eine Aufhebung der Blockade Gazas.
Er macht auch klar, dass es hier um den Nahen Osten im Ganzen geht – und dass die Türkei bei dessen Gestaltung gehört zu werden erwartet.
Kiniklioglu ist in Amerika sehr gut verdrahtet. Eine Zeitlang hat er das Büro des German Marshall Fund in Ankara geleitet. Zitat:
„Along with many European nations, the U.N. and global public opinion, the U.S. has a moral responsibility to condemn Israel’s violence.
Turkey is closely monitoring the U.S. response. As Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu noted, this is not a choice between Turkey and Israel. It is a choice between right and wrong, between legal and illegal.
In many respects, the Middle East is approaching an important crossroad. The United States will determine what sort of Middle East it will be dealing with in the future by its response to Israel’s actions. This could not be more urgent given the tension surrounding Iran’s nuclear program, the precarious situation in Iraq and the ongoing war in Afghanistan.
Furthermore, the flotilla raid has once again highlighted that the blockade on Gaza is no longer sustainable or justifiable.
Gaza today constitutes an open-air prison. According to Amnesty International, 1.4 million Palestinians are subject to a collective punishment whose aim is to suffocate the Gaza Strip.
Mass unemployment, extreme poverty and food price rises caused by shortages have left four in five Gazans dependent on humanitarian aid. That is why the Freedom Flotilla wanted to deliver aid. It also wanted to make a point of the need to allow Gazans to trade and interact with the rest of the world.
Turks have welcomed the Jews escaping from the Inquisition in Spain in 1492. Our diplomats have risked their lives to save European Jews from the Nazis. The Ottoman Empire and Turkey have traditionally been hospitable to Jews for centuries.
But we can no longer tolerate the brutal policies of the current Israeli government, especially if they cost the lives of our citizens. The conscience of neither the Turks, nor the international community, can any longer carry the burden of the Netanyahu government’s irresponsible policies. Both Israel and Turkey deserve better.“
Und aus einem weiteren Kommentar der New York Times sticht dieser Satz hervor: „One big winner in this week’s fiasco was the Iranian regime.“ Unter anderem dadurch, dass Israel der iranischen Propaganda in die Hände spielt – und seinen wichtigsten Verbündeten in der islamischen Welt, die Türkei, derart entfremdet. Allerdings hatte Erdogan schon seit der Operation „Gegossenes Blei“ Absetzungsbewegungen von Israel erkennen lassen. Aber warum muss man ihn auch noch antreiben?