-Caveat Lector- Haaretz News Updates Thu., May 27, 2004 Sivan 7, 5764 Israel Time: 01:13 (GMT+3)
Analysis / Turkish anger heartfelt By Zvi Bar'el "State terror," "massacre," "a state held captive by one party's politics" - these were some of the scathing words used this week by political leaders in Turkey in reference to Israel's policies in the territories. Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan didn't mince words when he met with National Infrastructure Minister Joseph Paritzky. According to Israeli sources, Erdogan "doused" Paritzky with criticism. In one biting exchange, Erdogan complained about Turkish parliament members who were held up at an Israel Defense Forces roadblock. Paritzky replied that "Israel cannot supervise every idiot." Turkey's prime minister fired back: "It turns out that you cannot supervise your helicopters either." Turkey's anger about IDF activities in the territories dates from the assassinations of Hamas leaders Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and Abdel Aziz Rantisi. At the time, Turkey delivered a message to Israel, saying that it cannot condone such policies, particularly due to objections raised internally by the Justice and Development Party. Members of this party demanded that Erdogan take substantive measures against Israel. Particularly outspoken in his criticism of Israel has been Turkey's Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc: this week, Arinc accused the IDF of perpetrating a massacre in Rafah. Arinc, who has led opposition in Turkey to the U.S. war in Iraq, has considerable power in Turkey's parliament; he has sufficient strength to railroad anti-Israel decisions through the parliament. This week, Turkey's ruling party managed to derail a proposed resolution in the parliament that featured harsh criticism of Israel. "But don't think that this will always be the result - and in any case, [this week's parliamentary discussion] was hardly flattering to Israel," a well-placed source in Turkey's parliament told Haaretz. "We're not talking about a break in relations, but don't think that what has happened is simply rhetorical censure. It's much more serious." Changes in public attitudes toward Israel in Turkey are either caused, or reflected by, media coverage of events in Israel and the territories, sources in Turkey explain. Recently the country's media has been filled with television footage and newspaper reports of the IDF operation in Rafah - the coverage featured apparently indiscriminate shooting and house demolitions. After a long absence, vehemently anti-Israel editorial cartoons can be seen in Turkey's media once again. One such cartoon shows Ariel Sharon bearing a swastika within a Star of David. Turkey's political leadership is not merely scolding Israel as lip service to mollify Islamic sectors, one Turkish news commentator explains. "Things are now more serious than that. It's become a question of public opinion. Notice that Erdogan said in his speech this week that a distinction has to be drawn between Sharon's policies and the Israeli people, and that a people cannot be judged by the actions of the ruling party. Erdogan sensed that things could get out of control, and that criticism in parliament and the media could incite anti-Israel and anti-Semitic elements in the country." A source from Turkey's ruling party tried yesterday to downplay recent developments, saying the the recall of his country's ambassador to Israel for consultations should not be seen as a portent of the future severance of diplomatic relations, but rather as "a signal of protest." © Copyright 2004 Haaretz. All rights reserved www.ctrl.org DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
