Highlights from Turkish Islamist press 26 Jul 06

BBC Monitoring

Yeni Safak

Under the headline, "Children Killed by Cluster Bombs," Yeni Safak
publishes a front-page report which accuses Israel of "starting
to use cluster bombs against civilians and children" in Lebanon.
According to the report, the civilian death toll stands at 400 in
the Israeli bombardment.

In a 7,650-word article entitled "Will US Troops Be Deployed on
Anatolian Soil?" on page 4, Yeni Safak columnist Ibrahim Karagul
claims that Israel’s attack on Lebanon was planned by the US and
Israeli administrations at a meeting in Colorado over 17-18 June,
adding that the purpose of the attack is to eliminate all sources of
resistance in the region against Israeli authority, enable the United
States to establish a military presence in Lebanon, and open a front
against Syria. Karagul claims Saudi Arabia’s, Egypt’s, Jordan’s and
Turkey’s support for the commitment of a NATO force to the region
indicates they have either "fallen into the trap" or are cooperating
with the US-Israeli plan because "the NATO force to be sent to the
region will not work for a ceasefire but fight for Israel and the
United States." He also claims that it will not be long before the
same forces attempt to deploy an "international force" consisting of US
troops along the Turkish-Syrian border and in the Port of Iskenderun.

In a 650-word article entitled "What Sort of Order is This?" on
page 12, Yeni Safak columnist Fehmi Koru blasts Condoleezza Rice for
announcing after her meeting with Olmert that "it is time for a new
Middle East" instead of taking Israel to task over the "destruction"
she "personally witnessed" in Lebanon or "at least requesting Israelis
to stop using disproportionate force." He also asserts that "the new
Middle East Order" looks set to be established at the cost of the
blood and lives of the people of the region.

Vakit

Under the headline, "This is Treason," Vakit publishes a front-page
report which criticizes the fact that "whereas Misons and Agops
who graduate from Jewish and Armenian schools in Turkey that offer a
religious-oriented education can enter university even when they score
poorly in the entrance exam, imam-hatip students have to surmount
obstacle after obstacle" before they can qualify for university
education.

In a 1.650-word article entitled "Sending Turkish Troops to Lebanon
by Hook or by Crook" on page 11, Vakit Editor-in-Chief Hasan Karakaya
argues that the plan to deploy a NATO force to Lebanon is not intended
to keep the peace in the region but to prevent Hezbollah from sending
missiles to Israel, adding that despite claims to the contrary, a NATO
force in Lebanon is certain to consist mostly of Turkish troops, "which
means" that "Israel’s security will be maintained by Turkish soldiers"
and that the Turkish army will find itself at odds not only with
Hezbollah but also with the Shi’is in Lebanon, and with Iran and Syria.

In a 1,200-word article entitled "What is it Time for?" on page 11,
Vakit columnist Abdurrahman Dilipak underlines the significance of
the fact that "black witch Rice" issued her statement calling for a
new Middle East on the anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of
Lausanne. He claims that the current Middle East borders were not
drawn in accordance with the will of the people of this region and
that in protecting their respective borders, Middle East countries
are maintaining a map "imposed by international powers centres"
early in the twentieth century. Dilipak also explains why Turkey
should not send troops either to Iraq or to Lebanon.

Zaman

Under the headline, "Issue of Peace Force for Lebanon Turns into a
Riddle," Zaman publishes a front-page report which asserts that it
still remains unknown when an international peacekeeping force will
be sent to Lebanon, who it will consist of, whether its targets will
include disarming Hezbollah, and what the role of NATO and the UN
will be.

In a 650-word article entitled "Search for Peace" on page 17, Zaman
columnist Mustafa Unal asserts that Ankara "justifiably" does not
look sympathetically on demands for its commitment of troops to an
international peace force in Lebanon because "deploying troops between
the Iran-supported Hezbollah and Israel, which regard the existence
of one another as casus belli, is not different from landing right
in the thick of the fire."

In a 750-word article entitled "Beyond Israel" on page 17, Zaman
columnist Nihal B. Karaca argues that it is a mistake to look to
the United States to stop the Israeli "outrage" in Gaza and Lebanon
because it was people within the US administration who advised former
Israeli leaders to effect a "clean break" with the Mideast process and
called on Israel to "reoccupy PNA territory even if it should entail
a high price in blood." A cartoon by Osman Turhan on page 17 depicts
a Western soldier with a smirk on his face directing a handgun to an
amazed Arab militiaman (or a terrorist, judging from his eye mask)
in the form of a hand puppet that the former has put on his right
hand – a possible sarcastic reference to what is presented as the
hypocritical quality of Western preparations to send an international
force to the Middle East in order to disarm Hezbollah.

Milli Gazete

Under the banner headline, "Let Parliament Convene Urgently," Milli
Gazete publishes a front-page report which censures the fact that
Turkey, "the historical leader of the region," is "not taking any steps
beyond engaging in telephone diplomacy, to stop the Israeli massacres
in Palestine and Lebanon." According to the report, Felicity Party (SP)
leader Recai Kutan has called on Parliament to convene extraordinarily
to discuss the latest developments in the Middle East.

In a 700-word article entitled "Their War is on Islam" on page 11,
Milli Gazete columnist Abdulkadir Ozkan claims that in first going
to Lebanon rather than to Israel despite the fact that "the war
was not started Lebanon," US State Secretary Rice revealed that the
purpose of her visit was not to mediate a "fair" agreement to stop the
hostilities but to "strengthen Israel’s hand." He also draws attention
to the coincidence of Rice’s visit with press reports that the United
States is preparing to give some 100 bunker buster bombs to Israel and
asks whether this situation does not amount to "taunting the world."

Bugun

In an 850-word article entitled "Sending Troops to Southern Lebanon?
Why not?" on page 10, Bugun columnist Cengiz Candar argues that Turkey
should "use the opportunity" provided by requests for its contribution
of troops to Lebanon to "raise its international profile," adding that
for Turkey, maintaining a military presence in Lebanon would be much
more effective against the "PKK scourge" than dispatching troops to
northern Iraq.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress