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  • ANKARA: Government softens rhetoric on Israel

    Hurriyet, Turkey
    Jan 28 2009


    GOVERNMENT SOFTENS RHETORIC ON ISRAEL



    The government has come under criticism for its strong rhetoric
    against Israel during the latest Gaza offensive. In the face of
    accusations of taking a pro-Hamas stance, Turkeys political leaders
    have begun showing signs of toning it down a notch

    Foreign Minister Ali Babacan has called on the Islamic group Hamas to
    use peaceful means to achieve its aims rather than armed struggle and
    Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoethan will meet with Israeli President
    Shimon Peres Thursday at a session on Middle East peace, making it the
    countries first high-level encounter since the Turkish leaders severe
    criticism of the Israeli military actions in Gaza

    In his address, Erdoethan is expected to highlight that his criticism
    targets not the Israeli people but the Israeli government and repeat
    that anti-Semitism is a crime against humanity as is Islamophobia.

    "The Israeli president often said in our private meetings that
    democracy must be privatized; peace must be privatized. Well be
    present at the same session in Davos on Thursday and Ill say to him,
    You said democracy must be privatized. I think there is no democracy
    more nationalized than this," Erdoethan told his ruling Justice and
    Development Party deputies in Parliament yesterday.

    He defended the governments foreign policy and said some circles were
    uneasy with the multi-faceted policies that have broken the
    established taboos.

    "They have so far said no to a solution in Cyprus, no to the EU, no to
    Greece, no to Armenia, and no to mediation in regional
    problems. Theyve said do not establish ties with the Turkic republics,
    otherwise you will have changed your direction and do not get
    interested in the Middle East, or youll get headache. This is their
    vision," said Erdoethan. He said the ruling party would not remain
    silent to injustice and that it would not be a partner to injustice

    Erdoethan also blamed the media for distorting the governments
    position

    "There is media in this country that dares to report lies by saying
    our president was not invited to a dinner," he said. Israeli Prime
    Minister Ehud Olmert held a dinner for European leaders who attended a
    meeting in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el Sheikh this month on the
    Israeli-Palestinian conflict. President Abdullah Gul participated in
    the meeting co-chaired by the presidents of Egypt and France but was
    not invited to the dinner given by Olmert in Israel later in the day.

    "What happened is different from what they report," said Erdoethan.

    [HH] Hamas must make a choice, says Babacan

    Erdoethan called Israels operations into the Gaza Strip controlled by
    Hamas "a crime against humanity," deploring what he saw as excessive
    force, and he suggested Israel be barred from the United Nations. His
    remarks shocked Israel and were interpreted by political observers as
    pro-Hamas.

    "Hamas should make a decision. Do they want to be an armed
    organization or a political movement?" Babacan said to a group of
    newspaper journalists yesterday. He said Turkey was not approving of
    what Hamas has done but stressed that peace was impossible without
    Hamas. "We must see the truth," he said.

    "There is a Hamas reality in Gaza. We are not in a position to approve
    of what Hamas is doing but it is not possible to reach success by
    ignoring Hamas. An intermediate formula definitely must be found. A
    solution must be generated in Gaza in line with the truth," said
    Babacan.

    "Our position, as Turkey, is very clear. First of all, we criticized
    the drama unfolding in Gaza and then we criticized the policies
    pursued by Israel. We condemned the (Israeli) operations from the very
    first day. Our prime minister said many times in the past that
    anti-Semitism is a crime against humanity," he said

    In a recent joint letter to Erdoethan, the leaders of five U.S. Jewish
    groups presented their concerns about Turkish Jews and said what they
    see as rising anti-Semitism in Turkey is connected to the strong
    condemnation by Turkish officials of Israel for the recent fighting in
    Gaza. Government spokesman Cemil Cicek said Erdoethans criticism
    targeted the Israeli policies.

    "Nobody should distort the statements made by the prime minister," he
    told reporters after Mondays Cabinet meeting. Cicek said all citizens
    living in Turkey enjoy the same rights and opportunities and stressed
    Turkish Jews are "beloved citizens of this country" and contribute to
    its development

    In an attempt to dispel the concerns among Turkish Jews after the
    governments harsh criticism, he said: "Their security is under the
    guarantee of the Turkish Republic."

    [HH] No change in Heron agreement

    The strained ties due to the Gaza crisis appear not to affect the
    military ties between the two regional allies, Turkey and
    Israel. Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul said yesterday that the agreement
    with Israel on the purchase of Heron Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)
    systems would be followed through, adding Turkey had already received
    two Heron systems and the remaining would be delivered in April.

    "There is a schedule for the delivery of Herons and any agreement we
    abide by is going to be followed through," said a diplomatic source,
    denying press reports that Israel canceled the military deal due to
    the Turkish governments severe criticism of Tel-Aviv
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