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LEARNING TO SAY SORRY IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Christian Science Monitor
April 30 2014
In the past week, not one but two leaders - Turkish and Palestinian -
made rare acknowledgements of the suffering of the 'other.' Critics
have called the gestures opportunistic.
By Christa Case Bryant, Staff writer / April 30, 2014
In a region better known for harboring old hatreds than saying,
"I'm sorry," this was a seminal week.
On the eve of the 99th anniversary of the deportation and massacre
of Armenians under Ottoman rule, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan conveyed the country's "condolences" to the grandchildren of
the 600,000 to 1.5 million killed in what many regard as a genocide.
And just as Israel began marking Holocaust Remembrance Day, Palestinian
Authority President Mahmoud Abbas called the killing of 6 million Jews
"the most heinous crime" of the modern era and expressed "sympathy
with the families of the victims and many other innocent people who
were killed by the Nazis."
RECOMMENDED: How much do you know about Israel? Take the quiz
Both Armenians and Israelis dismissed what they saw as opportunistic
statements by leaders under pressure. But whatever their motives, Mr.
Erdogan and Mr. Abbas's willingness to express empathy for the
suffering of their adversaries represents a significant break from
the region's obdurate public diplomacy in the name of honor.
In other regions, apologizing became "a very fashionable tool"
beginning in the 1990s, says Alon Liel, a veteran Israeli diplomat
whose postings have included Turkey. "But not in the Middle East...I
think because this element of honor in diplomacy is much more prominent
[than in Western democracies]," he says. "Everything is a matter of
scoring points."
Uncertain motives stir criticism
To be sure, both Erdogan and Abbas's statements came as they were
facing international and domestic pressure.
Abbas is caught in a blame game with Israel after US-mediated peace
talks fell apart last week. And Erdogan is increasingly under fire
for his repression of street protests, alleged government graft,
and lack of progress on Turkey's bid to join the European Union.
But that doesn't undermine the value of such gestures, says Orhan
Kemal Cengiz, a columnist and human rights lawyer.
"It is the first time a Turkish prime minister talked about the
grievances of Armenians," says Mr. Cengiz, who has worked extensively
with minority groups in Turkey. "He's an authoritarian leader, he
may have so many defects, but ... he dares to take risks. He's a doer."
Cracking open doors
Turkey for decades has denied Armenian claims of a genocide that began
during World War I, when Ottoman deportations and massacres led to the
death of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians. The deportations came
in response to a sporadic Armenian uprising in support of invading
Russian troops.
Even as Turkish academics began challenging that narrative of denial
around 2000, using the word "genocide" remained highly controversial.
But they steadily pushed the envelope in Turkish media and academia,
and commentators began using the term on TV.
Now with Erdogan's statement, "everybody has more space to discuss" the
issue, says Hugh Pope of the International Crisis Group in Istanbul.
The same is true in Palestinian society, where Abbas's statement cracks
open the door to discussing historical truths that are largely avoided
for fear of justifying Jewish claims to the land and thus undermining
Palestinian nationalism.
Israel dismissed the statement, however, and the Armenian diaspora
likewise rejected Erdogan's comments, saying Ankara was simply
"repacking its genocide denials."
"Typically the response of a diaspora is, 'This is not enough, we
need you to get on your knees and beg for forgiveness and repent of
your sins,' " says Mr. Pope.
But both sides have a role to play in overcoming the rift, he suggests,
comparing the process to water locks, in which the lock gates can't
be opened until the water level is equal on both sides.
"Hiding behind your highly polished version of events, and refusing
to acknowledge another version of events - it doesn't work."
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2014/0430/Learning-to-say-sorry-in-the-Middle-East
Christian Science Monitor
April 30 2014
In the past week, not one but two leaders - Turkish and Palestinian -
made rare acknowledgements of the suffering of the 'other.' Critics
have called the gestures opportunistic.
By Christa Case Bryant, Staff writer / April 30, 2014
In a region better known for harboring old hatreds than saying,
"I'm sorry," this was a seminal week.
On the eve of the 99th anniversary of the deportation and massacre
of Armenians under Ottoman rule, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan conveyed the country's "condolences" to the grandchildren of
the 600,000 to 1.5 million killed in what many regard as a genocide.
And just as Israel began marking Holocaust Remembrance Day, Palestinian
Authority President Mahmoud Abbas called the killing of 6 million Jews
"the most heinous crime" of the modern era and expressed "sympathy
with the families of the victims and many other innocent people who
were killed by the Nazis."
RECOMMENDED: How much do you know about Israel? Take the quiz
Both Armenians and Israelis dismissed what they saw as opportunistic
statements by leaders under pressure. But whatever their motives, Mr.
Erdogan and Mr. Abbas's willingness to express empathy for the
suffering of their adversaries represents a significant break from
the region's obdurate public diplomacy in the name of honor.
In other regions, apologizing became "a very fashionable tool"
beginning in the 1990s, says Alon Liel, a veteran Israeli diplomat
whose postings have included Turkey. "But not in the Middle East...I
think because this element of honor in diplomacy is much more prominent
[than in Western democracies]," he says. "Everything is a matter of
scoring points."
Uncertain motives stir criticism
To be sure, both Erdogan and Abbas's statements came as they were
facing international and domestic pressure.
Abbas is caught in a blame game with Israel after US-mediated peace
talks fell apart last week. And Erdogan is increasingly under fire
for his repression of street protests, alleged government graft,
and lack of progress on Turkey's bid to join the European Union.
But that doesn't undermine the value of such gestures, says Orhan
Kemal Cengiz, a columnist and human rights lawyer.
"It is the first time a Turkish prime minister talked about the
grievances of Armenians," says Mr. Cengiz, who has worked extensively
with minority groups in Turkey. "He's an authoritarian leader, he
may have so many defects, but ... he dares to take risks. He's a doer."
Cracking open doors
Turkey for decades has denied Armenian claims of a genocide that began
during World War I, when Ottoman deportations and massacres led to the
death of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians. The deportations came
in response to a sporadic Armenian uprising in support of invading
Russian troops.
Even as Turkish academics began challenging that narrative of denial
around 2000, using the word "genocide" remained highly controversial.
But they steadily pushed the envelope in Turkish media and academia,
and commentators began using the term on TV.
Now with Erdogan's statement, "everybody has more space to discuss" the
issue, says Hugh Pope of the International Crisis Group in Istanbul.
The same is true in Palestinian society, where Abbas's statement cracks
open the door to discussing historical truths that are largely avoided
for fear of justifying Jewish claims to the land and thus undermining
Palestinian nationalism.
Israel dismissed the statement, however, and the Armenian diaspora
likewise rejected Erdogan's comments, saying Ankara was simply
"repacking its genocide denials."
"Typically the response of a diaspora is, 'This is not enough, we
need you to get on your knees and beg for forgiveness and repent of
your sins,' " says Mr. Pope.
But both sides have a role to play in overcoming the rift, he suggests,
comparing the process to water locks, in which the lock gates can't
be opened until the water level is equal on both sides.
"Hiding behind your highly polished version of events, and refusing
to acknowledge another version of events - it doesn't work."
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2014/0430/Learning-to-say-sorry-in-the-Middle-East