PERES – ERDOGAN CONFRONTATION
David Essing

IsraCast
spx?ID=1057&t=Peres—Erdogan-Confrontation&am p;play=1
Jan 30 2009
Israel

Israel’s President Shimon Peres Pulls No Punches In Rebuttal Of
Turkish Leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Condemnation Of Israeli Operation
Against Hamas

Israeli Experts Believe Erdogan Is Bashing Israel To Win Islamist
Votes In Upcoming Turkish Election

IsraCast Comment: Peres Could Have Recalled Turkey’s Past Oppression
Of Armenians & Current Warfare Against Kurds

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, there were fireworks after
Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan again condemned Israel for
its Operation ‘Cast Shield’ against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Sharing
the stage was Israel’s President Shimon Peres who refuted Erdogan’s
allegations. Also taking part in the discussion were UN Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon and Arab League Secretary General Amr Musa.

‘What would you do if missiles were falling on Istanbul!’ That was the
passionate reaction of President Shimon Peres to the condemnation of
Israel by Turkey’s Prime Minister Erdogan as they collided head-on
at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The Turkish leader had again
castigated the Jewish state for launching its military operation to
halt the Palestinian rocketing of Israeli civilians from the Gaza Strip
that has been going on for eight years. Erdogan’s verbal assaults
have surprised Israel in light of the fact here is what is called
‘the secret strategic alliance’ between the two non-Arab countries
in the Middle East.

Since the Turkish leader’s sharp criticism, tens of thousands of
Israeli tourists have canceled their trips to their favorite resorts in
Turkey. The Turkish leader had also been acting as a mediator between
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Syrian President Assad. Erdogan’s sudden
and what Israel views as totally unjustified condemnation has taken
Jerusalem by surprise. Some Israeli experts say it may be linked to
upcoming elections in Turkey – Erdogan, leader of the Justice and
Development Party, may be trying to garner votes from Islamists by
bashing Israel. This is arousing criticism by Erdogan’s political
rivals back home.

Turkey’s Foreign Minister has been quoted as taking a different
view of the war in Gaza. Turkey’s top diplomat reportedly said
that Hamas should decide whether it wants to carry guns or conduct
politics. Turkish sources are also aware that Erdogan’s allegations
against the Jewish state could backfire.

For example, human rights organizations have long pressured the Jewish
state to lend its voice to the international move to condemn Turkey
for genocide in murdering over an estimated one million Armenians in
1915. But for whatever reason, Israeli governments have refrained from
doing so. Moreover, today Turkey itself shows far less restraint that
Israel in its ongoing confrontation with its own Kurdish population
which seeks autonomy. Turkey also launches cross border raids against
the Kurds and has warned it will go to war to prevent the establishment
of an independent Kurdistan.