‘NO SUPPORT’ FOR ERDOGAN’S ISRAEL COMMENTS IN US
Hurriyet Daily News
March 29 2010
Turkey
Robert Wexler, the former chairman of the US Congress’ Turkey caucus,
says PM Erdogan’s anti-Israel rhetoric is receiving no support
in the US. Calling the Turkish leader’s comments ‘outlandish’ and
‘bizarre,’ he says they do ‘far greater discredit in America than
you can imagine.’
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ongoing criticism of Israel is
not receiving any support in the United States, according to a former
U.S. congressman who has said such "bizarre" comments discredit Turkey.
"There is no audience, I can assure you, for Prime Minister Erdogan’s
comments regarding Israel – not in the Democratic Party, not in
the Republican Party, not among more than maybe 2 percent of the
population," Robert Wexler, the former chairman of the congressional
caucus on U.S.-Turkey relations, said last week.
"In fact, they are viewed as being so outlandish, so bizarre that most
Americans would say, ‘Why bother even responding?’" he added, speaking
during a meeting with young professionals from Turkey and the U.S.
"Those kinds of comments do far greater discredit in America to the
individual presenting them than you can imagine."
A fierce and vocal critic of the Israeli government’s actions in
Gaza, Erdogan has been criticized for going too far in his rhetoric,
creating negative public opinion toward Israel and fostering
anti-Semitic sentiment.
"[But] let me be realistic: Most Americans are not waking up and
wondering what the Turkish prime minister is saying today, tomorrow
or the next day," added Wexler, who now heads a Washington, D.C.-based
think tank, the Center for Middle East Peace and Economic Cooperation.
Praise for the government
Despite these criticisms, Wexler praised Turkey for having the courage
to at least begin the normalization process with neighboring Armenia.
"Whether or not the government can deliver politically is, of course,
another question. But the way I look at it, they have been more
progressive, more forthcoming than any other Turkish government on
the issue, so we should be at least somewhat thankful and show a
bit of respect for the initial and second effort made by the Turkish
government," he said.
Asked his thoughts on some of the criticisms that have been directed
toward Turkey’s governing Justice and Development Party, or AKP,
Wexler said it was unclear whether the opposition offered much more
in terms of foreign policy.
"If you go down every list of items – Cyprus, the Middle East… on
each of these items, I certainly can find differences or criticisms of
the current government, but looking at what the current opposition
leadership is offering, it seems far worse than the governing
coalition," he said.
Emphasizing that he would not minimize what he termed Erdogan’s
"inflammatory nature," especially toward Israel, Wexler acknowledged
that the Turkish prime minister had presented a strong vision on the
need to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
"He has certain valid points, but the manner in which those valid
points are expressed is accomplished in such a way that the credibility
of those legitimate points is undermined, at least here in America,
because it is a one-sided assessment of the facts," he said.
Doubts on Turkish engagement with Iran, Syria
According to Wexler, Americans shrug their shoulders when the
Turkish leadership says Israel is a war criminal or that its alleged
nuclear-weapons capacity is comparable to Iran’s quest to develop
such weapons.
He admitted there was anxiety about Turkey’s engagement with its
neighbors, including Syria and Iran, but said the most pro-Israel
forces in America favor a policy that helps remove Syria from Iran’s
orbit, while criticizing Turkey for pursuing policies that may,
in fact, be the only legitimate way to accomplish that goal.
According to Wexler, Turkish-Syrian rapprochement would present
Damascus with different markets and alternatives and help remove it
from Tehran’s influence, something the U.S. has been trying to affect
as well.
Iran sanctions
Asked about Ankara’s position on sanctions that could be leveled
against Iran at the United Nations Security Council due to its nuclear
ambitions, Wexler said Turkey’s possible actions as a temporary member
of the Security Council were worrisome for the United States.
"That’s a legitimate trepidation and also it is a bit exaggerated
in this sense: I think there are many people in this country that
expect Turkey to act as if it were the United States of America,"
he said. "I think it is unrealistic to expect a nation that shares
a border with another nation in a very challenging period of time,
in a very volatile period of time, to be up front calling for severe
economic sanctions."
Wexler added, however, that Turkish officials were delivering a message
"arguably more severe than others" when meeting with Iranian President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Iranian religious leaders.
"I would argue that, in this environment, the message that the Iranians
are actually receiving that is most important and most revealing about
the intentions of the West may, ironically, come from Turkish leaders,"
he said.
However, Wexler warned, if Turkey chooses to play a less than
helpful role on the Security Council, it would be quite damaging
to American-Turkish relations. He added that it would also fuel a
whole new set of allegations that Turkey is drifting away from its
Western alliances.