Running the risk of fiery rhetoric
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by Fulya Özerkan
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Ocak 07, 2009 00:00
ANKARA - The escalating rhetoric of the Prime Minister's criticism of Israel's military offensive in Gaza is drowning out the reaction of some Arab leaders, while threatening Turkey’s stance as mediator, not least in the eyes of Israel.
"How does Turkey expect to fulfill the role of an intermediary when it chooses to adopt a one-sided approach?" asked one diplomatic observer, speaking to the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review yesterday.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has severely criticized Israel since the offensive began last month, while at the same time he is leading intensive diplomatic efforts to hammer out a plan for a lasting cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. Tel Aviv, however, has communicated with Ankara its reservations through diplomatic channels, rather than publicly, learned the Daily News.
Professor Ahmet Davutoğlu, Erdoğan's chief foreign policy advisor, who was holding talks in Syria yesterday, held separate meetings Monday with Israel's Ambassador to Ankara Gaby Levy and incoming U.S. Ambassador James Jeffrey. Although Israel has refrained from publicizing its unease regarding Erdoğan's critical remarks, at ambassadorial-level meetings and phone conversations, concerns were conveyed to the Turkish side, sources said.
"We take every action through official channels, not publicly. There are ongoing meetings between officials in the two foreign ministries and embassies (in Ankara and Tel Aviv)," said a diplomatic source. Foreign Minister Ali Babacan held a telephone conversation Monday with his Israeli counterpart, Tzipi Livni.
Some commentaries in the Israeli press said Israel was considering plans to recall its ambassador to Ankara in a show of protest but the embassy here denied this claim and said Tel Aviv had no intention to recall its envoy.
Another sign of the one-sided policy pursued by Erdoğan was evident in his diplomatic tour of four regional countries last week, skipping Israel, while pushing for a cease-fire. The Prime Minister has neither spoken to nor met with his Israeli counterpart since the beginning of the Gaza operation; whereas his envoy has held talks with Hamas.
"Any solution and any cease-fire will have to include Israel. Someone can speak with anyone he wants, but in the end a solution needs to be reached together with Israel," said an unnamed diplomatic source.
The Daily News learned that Erdoğan told his deputies at his party's executive committee meeting Monday: "A cease-fire is a sine quo non. No contact with Israel is under consideration unless this condition is fulfilled."
'Black stain left on humanity'
Erdoğan took a harsher tone yesterday condemning Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip as "savagery."
"What reason can justify such savagery?" he said at his ruling Justice and Development Party's group meeting in Parliament. He said the assault, which has claimed more than 580 lives, was a bid by Israeli leadership to score points in the run-up to the parliamentary elections set for February.
"I am telling Ehud Barak and Livni to forget about the elections because history will judge them for the black stain they are leaving on humanity," Erdoğan said.
Turkey has been Israel's main regional ally since 1996, when the two struck a military cooperation deal but Turkey also has close ties with the Palestinians, whose plight enjoys widespread sympathy here. After the Israeli attacks on Gaza, thousands took to the streets across the country, while certain circles urged Erdoğan to cut off ties with Tel Aviv. "We are not running a grocery; we are running the Turkish Republic. We know what steps to take," Erdoğan replied.
Defense Minister Vecdi Gönül denied allegations of a $167 million-weapon procurement deal concluded between Turkey and Israel only days before the Israeli operation began Dec. 27. "No military agreement was signed during the tenure of our government. That deal was concluded long ago," he said.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has severely criticized Israel since the offensive began last month, while at the same time he is leading intensive diplomatic efforts to hammer out a plan for a lasting cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. Tel Aviv, however, has communicated with Ankara its reservations through diplomatic channels, rather than publicly, learned the Daily News.
Professor Ahmet Davutoğlu, Erdoğan's chief foreign policy advisor, who was holding talks in Syria yesterday, held separate meetings Monday with Israel's Ambassador to Ankara Gaby Levy and incoming U.S. Ambassador James Jeffrey. Although Israel has refrained from publicizing its unease regarding Erdoğan's critical remarks, at ambassadorial-level meetings and phone conversations, concerns were conveyed to the Turkish side, sources said.
"We take every action through official channels, not publicly. There are ongoing meetings between officials in the two foreign ministries and embassies (in Ankara and Tel Aviv)," said a diplomatic source. Foreign Minister Ali Babacan held a telephone conversation Monday with his Israeli counterpart, Tzipi Livni.
Some commentaries in the Israeli press said Israel was considering plans to recall its ambassador to Ankara in a show of protest but the embassy here denied this claim and said Tel Aviv had no intention to recall its envoy.
Another sign of the one-sided policy pursued by Erdoğan was evident in his diplomatic tour of four regional countries last week, skipping Israel, while pushing for a cease-fire. The Prime Minister has neither spoken to nor met with his Israeli counterpart since the beginning of the Gaza operation; whereas his envoy has held talks with Hamas.
"Any solution and any cease-fire will have to include Israel. Someone can speak with anyone he wants, but in the end a solution needs to be reached together with Israel," said an unnamed diplomatic source.
The Daily News learned that Erdoğan told his deputies at his party's executive committee meeting Monday: "A cease-fire is a sine quo non. No contact with Israel is under consideration unless this condition is fulfilled."
'Black stain left on humanity'
Erdoğan took a harsher tone yesterday condemning Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip as "savagery."
"What reason can justify such savagery?" he said at his ruling Justice and Development Party's group meeting in Parliament. He said the assault, which has claimed more than 580 lives, was a bid by Israeli leadership to score points in the run-up to the parliamentary elections set for February.
"I am telling Ehud Barak and Livni to forget about the elections because history will judge them for the black stain they are leaving on humanity," Erdoğan said.
Turkey has been Israel's main regional ally since 1996, when the two struck a military cooperation deal but Turkey also has close ties with the Palestinians, whose plight enjoys widespread sympathy here. After the Israeli attacks on Gaza, thousands took to the streets across the country, while certain circles urged Erdoğan to cut off ties with Tel Aviv. "We are not running a grocery; we are running the Turkish Republic. We know what steps to take," Erdoğan replied.
Defense Minister Vecdi Gönül denied allegations of a $167 million-weapon procurement deal concluded between Turkey and Israel only days before the Israeli operation began Dec. 27. "No military agreement was signed during the tenure of our government. That deal was concluded long ago," he said.