A New Period in Turkish-Israeli Relations
The Mavi Marmara ship, which has humanitarian aid to Gaza, has been 15 months since the armed raid on the International waters of the Eastern Mediterranean, on the Israeli Naval Force side (May 2010). In this RAID, 9 Turkish citizens died.
Türkiye demanded that Israel apologize and pay compensation to the relatives of the martyrs. Israel did not respond to these demands. Türkiye has taken the matter to the United Nations Security Council. According to reports that leaked from there, however, it was understood that a satisfactory decision would not be made to make Türkiye's demands come into effect.
Today (2 September 2011) we heard Türkiye's response from our Foreign Minister, Professor Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu.
Türkiye will sanction Israel on five issues:
- Diplomatic relations will be downgraded to the second level of type.
- Effective support will be given to the cases brought by the relatives of those who were martyred in Mavi Marmara.
- The blockade against Gaza will not be recognized and will go to the Hague Court of Justice to lift it.
- Active measures will be taken to ensure safe sea traffic in the eastern Mediterranean.
- All Military agreements between Türkiye and Israel will be suspended.
With this decision, we can say that we have reached full awareness that Israel is the true opponent and competitor of Türkiye in the Middle East.
Israel's continued development of a furiously and limitless military measure and military force against those who oppose its decisions has started to threaten Türkiye and its friends openly.
Israel is a force that, in the medium term, may face Türkiye at the latest, after having put Palestine in its borders and assimilate, that says there is land promised to it within the Turkish Borders.
By understanding this fact, we must congratulate the AK Party government, with our Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, who have reorganized our foreign policy.
Israel has used Türkiye for its own dirty ambitions until the AK Party's ruling period. The peak of use was also in the February 28 process.
Türkiye must not step back from the point. The determination to this issue will serve to preserve the national interests of our country, as well as to the creation of the Islamic Union.
It is important to implement the decisions taken. Therefore,
- Türkiye should make military, defense, and defense industry cooperation agreements with Palestine, by highlighting Hamas.
- As part of these agreements, Türkiye must provide training and technical support to Palestine for its military force to reach a level capable of dealing with Israel.
- Türkiye's predecessor should establish an Islamic Instant Response Force and ensure that this power serves in Gaza.
- An alternative to the Hague Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court, the World Islamic Court of Justice, and the International Criminal Court for the Islamic World should be established, and cases between Islamic countries and between other countries and Muslim countries should be discussed in these courts.
- To support and assistance of Islamic countries and the regular army for Palestine must be established.
- The port of Gaza must be built by Turkish Construction companies according to International Standards and Gaza's maritime contact with the world must be provided through this port.
- Gaza's Refah Gate with Egypt must be adapted to ensure Gaza's contact with the land.
The future of Türkiye and the Islamic World and the peace of the world are in the realization of these measures. September 3, 2011
Adnan Tanrıverdi
Retired Brigadier General
Honorary Chairman of ASDER
