The Palestinian issue remains the fast road to political popularity among Arabs and Muslims, and the surest way to win elections, if they are not tampered with. Jamal Abdel-Nasser hoisted the banner of Palestine and the Arabs hoisted him on their shoulders. Before and after Abdel-Nasser, the same was done by the Baath Party, the Arab Nationalist Movement and the Syrian Social Nationalist Party, along with subsequent political movements, up to the present. Some have raised the banner of Palestine based on their convictions, and others have exploited the issue. In the latter category, we have Saddam Hussein, who launched his missiles at Israel during the war to liberate Kuwait. He did not kill or damage anything (one Israeli died from a heart attack) and even so, his desperate move was welcomed by the Palestinians, and every Arab people cheered him. Today, Iran and Turkey are raising this Arab issue and competing with Arab countries in supporting the Palestinians, garnering popularity from the Atlantic to the Gulf. I will try and free my mind and heart of any personal views, and let objectivity win out. The two countries' support for the cause is real, even if it serves their interests. However, Iranian support is weakened by the regime's demagogy, as we saw in the determination to send an Iranian fleet, as with the Turkish Freedom Flotilla, to help Gaza, protecting it with naval units of the Republican Guards. It is also harmful because Iran is accused of supporting terror, and because the country's nuclear program provides an excuse to Israel to block the peace process, as it demands that Iran be stripped of any military nuclear capability, to guarantee the security of the Jewish state, before it moves toward peace with the Palestinians. I will let Mahmoud Ahmadinejad move from one mistake to the next, and give free ammunition to the enemies of his country. Today I will focus on Turkey, its government, and its leadership role in the region. I recently heard some criticism, made openly, of Turkey's role, with an accusation of the Turkish troika of Abdullah Gul, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Ahmad Davatoglu of exploiting the Palestinian issue. I say to critics: exploit it yourselves, because it is clear that this exploitation is profitable, as apparent from the rising popularity of the Turkish prime minister in every Arab country. Defending the Palestinians definitely benefits the government of the Justice and Development Party. However, to be fair, we must note that the party has an Islamist background, which means that support of the issue rests on conviction, and not exploitation. Moreover, I have followed Erdogan's career; I know him and have met him, and spoken with him. I was in Davos on 29 January 2009 when he rose up against Israeli President Shimon Peres, a professional charlatan who was trying to manufacture lies about the war against Gaza, as if Israel was the party that was subjected to a Hamas offensive. Erdogan withdrew from the meeting in anger. He grew red-faced as he screamed, moving in front of me. I do not think that I am a child, to be deceived about what I was seeing. Erdogan was truly agitated, and a professional actor would not have been able to do half as well. I know that Erdogan is seeking a Turkish-Arab alliance against Israel. I am not putting forward an opinion here, which might be correct or incorrect. Instead, this is information that I heard from decision-makers in a discussion not for publication. I also know that Egypt has begun a tripartite alliance with Turkey and Syria against Israel, and my information from concerned sources tells me that I should not expect to see any banners proclaiming “alliance against Israel,” so that no negative reactions come from the United States and Europe. A Turkish official told me, “We and the Arabs are a hundred times more important than Israel, and the US and Europe will be forced to deal with us on this basis.” The overt part of this alliance, without being officially declared, is economic in nature, and this will not be achieved without a climate of stability. Therefore, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmad Davutoglu says that his country wants “zero problems” in its relations with its neighbors, and is striving to build an integrated economy in the region, one that is interdependent, with security guaranteed for all, and coexistence based on the plurality of cultures and religion, and freedom for everyone. In all of this, Turkey wants to play a central role in gathering together the region's countries. Erdogan said himself that his government does not want to turn itself from one direction to another, but rather build bridges between the states of the region, and the east and the west. It hopes that a rising Turkish-Arab bloc will limit the role of Israel and pave the way for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. The Justice and Development Party will win parliamentary elections next year. However, this does not mean that it will win every election, since change is a part of democracy. However, the party has enough time to make its party platform, with its various political, economic and social components, into a sustainable Turkish national program, as long as it serves the interests of the Turkish people. Arabs who are following Turkey's positions need not worry; all they have to do is do what the Turks are doing, to serve the cause, their nation and their religion, and themselves, before Israel enters their homes. [email protected]
