It seems that government had decided not to rely on Jewish lobby in the US. Against the Armenian Genocide claims, Jewish lobby was a constant helper. Israeli officials themselves downplayed the crisis, but not the diaspora.
I believe PM Erdoğan consolidates his domestic power. But I don’t think this was a staged event as some commenters claim. They have wild imaginations. Too much belief in conspiracy theories.
Turkey’s image? Hmmm when was it good anyway?
According to a poll, made in 30 cities and 1200 citizens by MetroPoll, 78.3 % agrees with PM Erdoğan’s reaction while 13.7% disagrees.
However, this does not mean, all those agree think this will have good consequences for Turkey. Still, that’s 55.7 %. On the other hand, 21% thinks this is not good for the country.
[roundup updated]
So, is Turkey pro-Hamas now?
[Originally published in Hurriyet Daily News] Israel’s brutal attack on Gaza has not just left 1,330 dead bodies, including those of 437 children, but also a Turkey that is very bitter against the Jewish state. Turkish society deeply felt and shared the suffering of the Palestinians in the Strip and rallied against the bombs that hit them. The last time I saw such a tense public sentiment was the early 1990s, when Bosnians were subjected to "ethnic cleansing" by Serbian nationalists. The situation in Gaza was more complex, to be sure, but it was perceived in Turkey as something similar to the slaughter of Muslims in the Balkans. Therefore, it wasn’t a surprise to see the Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip ErdoÄan say harsh words against Israel. He was just mirroring the public sentiment. And this was more than populism, as some could ascribe to a politician who is on the eve of local elections. Mr. ErdoÄan was sincere in his feelings. When he visited a group of wounded Palestinians that were brought to an Ankara hospital, people noticed tears in his eyes.
Erdogan’s histrionics in Davos could hurt Turkey’s emerging role | World news | The Guardian
A Turkey-Israel Clash at Davos: Erdogan’s Feeling for Rage – SPIEGEL ONLINE – News – International
Hero’s Welcome for Turkish Leader After Davos Walkout – NYTimes.com
Pride and reality by MÜMTAZ’ER TÜRKÖNE
Turkey has three important items on the agenda. According to the importance the general public attaches to them, these items rank as follows: First is the tragedy in Gaza.
A sign of life in the Davos Dead Zone
If you missed the final moments of the passionate exchange at Davos’ World Economic Forum between Turkish Prime Minister Erdoğan, Israeli President Peres and a moderator with the cultural sensitivity of a United Airlines stewardess… well, this one is already all over YouTube.
Erdoğan’s tirade risks hurting image in West
ANKARA – After PM Erdoğan’s rhetoric reaches new heights, this time in person with the Israeli president, there are fears the repercussions will damage more than just short-term ties with Israel.
Since when did Erdogan have a problem with leaders who kill people?
Even setting aside Turkey’s record with its Armenian and Kurdish minorities for a moment, it’s a little rich for Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to be so aghast at the idea of sharing a stage with a human rights abuser.
‘Palestine Today Is an Open-Air Prison’
Tensions between Israel and Turkey broke into the open at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week when Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan blasted Israel for its offensive in Gaza. Excerpts from Erdogan’s interview with Newsweek-The Post’s Lally Weymouth:
I applaud the prime minister of the Turkish Republic
| On Thursday night, the entire world watched the arrogance of a moderator and a president. It is a dangerous process for referees to attempt to act like cheerleaders. |
How is Davos perceived in the US?
Despite a strain between civilizations in Davos, I am in Atlanta to attend an important conference co-chaired by Turkey and focusing on the alliance of civilizations.
Davos 2009: spin doctors’ paradise or showing common sense?
Watching Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan walking off a stage is not an unusual sight — after a speech, that is! Thursday evening in Davos changed all that.
Erdoğan’s Davos walkout a historic deed
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s walkout during a session of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos on Thursday after an angry exchange with Israeli President Shimon Peres over Israel’s recent atrocities in Gaza has been widely welcomed by the Turkish media, which interpreted it as a “historic” move.
A new foreign policy approach
Have the stances adopted lately by Turkey on a range of regional situations — including the latest Gaza crisis — been signs of truly deep-rooted changes in this nation’s foreign policy?
Turkish PM becomes a hit after Davos
ISTANBUL – Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s heated exchange with Israeli President Shimon Peres at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday was widely covered by Turkish newspapers yesterday. Almost all the newspapers featured the incident on their front pages.
Turkish PM given hero’s welcome
Thousands cheer Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his return to Istanbul after storming out of a Gaza debate in Davos.
Stratfor Geopolitical Diary: The World’s PivotTurkey is beginning to stir after nine decades of relative obscurity on the world stage
Turks, Gaza praise PM Erdoğan
ISTANBUL – As thousands of supporters give Erdoğan a hero’s welcome in Istanbul on his return from Switzerland, the man himself says he did what he had to do, when asked about walking out on a panel. ’I cannot remain apathetic when it comes to these things. It’s just not in my nature. I am duty-bound to defend the honor of my country,’ says the prime minister.
Major American-Jewish Organizations may no Longer Back Turkey in …Huffington Post
Turkish PM "upset" at American Jews, denies rise in anti-Semitism
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said he is very upset at the American Jews who criticized him over his harsh rhetoric regarding Israel’s Gaza operations.
REACTIONS- Readers’ letters on Davos crisis
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan stormed out of a heated debate on the Gaza war with Israel’s President Shimon Peres at the Davos forum on Thursday. Here are the reactions coming from Hurriyet Daily News Online readers regarding the incident.
Turkish PM reitreates his criticism not target Israeli people or Jews
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan reiterated that his criticism over the Gaza operation does not target the Israeli people or the Jewish world, but the Israeli government.
Turk army:National interests should be priority
The Turkish army said on Friday that it is a necessity to act in line with the national interests in mutual diplomatic relations, the state-run Anatolian Agency reported.
Phone call between Turkish, Israeli leaders
Israel’s President Shimon Peres called Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan after Thursday’s spat at Davos in a bid to sooth the tension. A transcript of the taped telephone conversation between the leaders was issued on Friday.
La Turquie, cet allié trop négligé
Le Figaro (France), 24 janvier 2009, p. 17
C es premiers jours de 2009 n’ont pas manqué, particulièrement au Moyen-Orient mais pas seulement, d’événements dramatiques et de situations presque entièrement bloquées. Il se trouve qu’un pays exprime des positions politiques et dispose d’atouts géographiques qui lui permettent de jouer un rôle considérable dans la solution d’au moins trois des conflits majeurs qui se sont dessinés en ce début d’année. Ce pays, c’est la Turquie. Et voici pourquoi. Nous avons connu deux pics de tension, à Gaza, bien sûr, mais aussi dans le énième affrontement gazier entre la Russie et l’Ukraine. Nous continuons par ailleurs de ressentir la dégradation permanente des relations internationales liée au refus iranien de coopérer sérieusement à une solution de compromis en matière nucléaire. Or, à chacun de ses problèmes la Turquie peut apporter une solution parfois décisive.
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Hello Erkan!
I thought you might react to the news of this clash between the Turkish PM Erdogan and the Israeli President Peres. I don’t believe either that this was a staged event, as this kind of clash is rather seen as counterproductive and potentially negative for the image and reputation of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos. They would usually prefer such “unexpected” event as a “spontaneous” public handshake between Peres and Arafat at a plenary session (if I remember well). But then, there are so many wild rumors about the WEF, one the more unlikely than the others (yes, I’m being a bit patriotic here…), that I’m not surprised some people would think that this public quarrel was set up.
However, let’s face it too: in the current situation, when tempers run so high on the issue of the Gaza war, to gather personalities like the president of Israel, the PM of Turkey and the head of the Arab League to talk about the crisis in the Middle-East was also running the risk of a public clash.
I sincerely hope, however, that the officials of both Turkey and Israel, will be wise enough to put aside such political politics (as we call this kind of disputes here) and continue their common efforts to contribute to the resolution of the Israelo-Palestinian efforts. There is really too much at stake to let wounded national pride take over. Apparently, Shimon Peres called Tayip Erdogan shortly afterward to talk with him. I don’t know if they were able to reconcile, but I hope this will not get in the way of the Turkish-Israel relationships.
I definitely agree with Mr. Adler’s editorial from the Figaro!
Ariane, thank you for your concerned comment. I honestly believe Turkey’s AKP does not intend to break up with Israel. Turkey is angry because Israel stole the show when Turkey was trying to negotiate between Syria and Turkey and thus asserting its role in Middle East. I believe there will be reconciliation. Both countries need each other, in fact…