Politics 13:20 08/06/2010

Erdogan Deserves Medal As Fake Friend of Palestinians

In the past week the world witnessed an amazing performance by a government leader that even the most accomplished Hollywood actor could not match!

Turkey’s Prime Minister deserves an Oscar for presenting himself as a great humanitarian and protector of Palestinians. The people of Gaza are certainly oppressed and deprived, but Erdogan is not their knight in shining armor! One cannot champion human rights with unclean hands!
This is the height of hypocrisy!

- How could Turkey blockade Armenia for 17 years and credibly call on Israel to lift its blockade of Gaza?

- How could Erdogan condemn Israeli attacks on Palestinians, when Turkish jets regularly bomb Northern Iraq (Kurdistan), killing and maiming innocent men, women and children?

- How could the Prime Minister of Turkey condemn Israel’s mistreatment of Palestinians, when his own country deprives Alevis, Armenians, Assyrians, Greeks, Jews and Kurds of their most basic rights?

- How could Turkey oppose the occupation of Palestine and Karabagh (Artsakh), while occupying Northern Cyprus and Western Armenia?

- How could Turkish leaders accuse Israel and China of committing "genocide," when they deny the reality of Turkey’s own genocide of 1.5 million Armenians?

- How could Turkey claim to be champion of the Palestinian cause and leader of the Islamic world, while being Israel’s closest military ally in the Middle East for over a half century, and allowing Israeli jets to carry out practice bombing runs in Turkish airspace against Arab countries and Iran?

- How could Syria, Iraq and Iran trust Turkey, when it jeopardizes their national security by permitting Israeli listening posts along the border to collect intelligence on their countries.

- How could Erdogan be a guardian of human rights while journalists, attorneys, clergymen and human rights activists are persecuted and even assassinated in his own country?

- How could Turkish leaders claim that Israel is a "terrorist state," while continuing to maintain a military alliance and multi-billion dollar trade with the Jewish state? Turkey pretended to side with Arab states, all the while conspiring with Israel to damage their national security!

Israel and the United States share responsibility for Turkey’s hypocritical behavior -- they joined in supporting, defending and covering up numerous Turkish violations of human rights, denial of the Armenian Genocide, and suppression and ethnic cleansing of the Kurdish minority. In the past 60 years, the United States and other NATO members gave billions of dollars in foreign aid and military assistance to Turkey, vainly expecting to win its loyalty. This was a massive waste of U.S. resources, as Turkey did not even allow American troops to go across its border at the start of the Iraq war!

Turkey cleverly exploited Israel’s ill-advised attack on the Gaza aid flotilla, and sought to fill the vacuum created by the irresponsible inaction of Arab states. Erdogan is just as guilty as Israel’s leaders for causing the killing and wounding of the aid activists. He tacitly encouraged them to set sail to Gaza, knowing full well that there would be a bloody confrontation which would boost his own standing at home and abroad. Turkey’s junior brother, Azerbaijan, also gets a medal for hypocrisy as it issued a timid condemnation of Israel, so it could continue to buy arms and sell oil to that country. So much for Turkish-Azeri solidarity!

Of course, over the years, the Israeli government has acted just as hypocritically as Turkey’s leaders. While countering any and all manifestations of Holocaust revisionism, Israeli officials have shown no reluctance in supporting Turkey’s denials of the Armenian Genocide. But now that Erdogan has raised his voice against Israel to a fever pitch, Israelis have jumped at the opportunity of using the possibility of recognizing the Armenian Genocide as a weapon against
Turkey. Armenians must reject such dishonesty. The Israeli government was not sincere when it denied the Armenian Genocide, and it is not sincere now in supporting its recognition! It is shameful to play cheap political games with an issue as horrendous and devastating as genocide. Israel and others should recognize the Armenian Genocide for only one reason: It is the absolute truth!

So far, Turkey has been all talk and no action on the Palestinian issue. Erdogan has not gone beyond giving fiery speeches against Israel. If he is honest about defending the Palestinians, he might consider:

1. Canceling all military contacts and contracts with Israel;
2. Abrogating all public and secret military and strategic agreements with Israel, including intelligence-sharing; and
3. Closing down the Turkish Embassy in Tel Aviv and Israel’s Embassy in Ankara.

In the aftermath of last week’s bloody confrontation, a major domestic controversy erupted in Turkey, when Erdogan accused Israel of breaking one of the Ten Commandments. After saying "You Shall not Kill" in Turkish, he repeated it in English and Hebrew, to make sure that Jews “could understand” his words! In response, Kemal Kılıcdaroglu, leader of CHP opposition Party, told the Turkish public that Erdogan himself had broken two other Commandments: “You Shall not Steal” and “You Shall not Lie!”

By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
 



Source Panorama.am
Share |
Տեքստում սխալ կամ վրիպակ նկատելու դեպքում, ուղարկեք խմբագրին հաղորդագրություն` նշելով տվյալ սխալը, այնուհետև սեղմելով Ctrl-Enter:

Newsfeed

17:00
Temperatures to drop in Armenia
Rain and thunderstorms are expected in Armenia’s regions during the weekend and next week. Fog is possible in some areas, the national...
16:56
Two Artsakh child brothers killed in Azeri attack laid to rest in Armenia's Masis
Two child brothers from Artsakh, who were killed in last week’s Azerbaijani military offensive, on Saturday were laid to rest at the...
16:32
March in support of Ruben Vardanyan starts in Yerevan
A march started in central Yerevan late on Saturday afternoon to express solidarity with prominent Armenian businessman, philanthropist,...
15:55
Lemkin Institute accuses world leaders of complicity in genocide in Nagorno-Karabakh
The Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention has criticized the United States for "bothsidesism" and its "delusional belief"...
15:33
David Babayan arrested in Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani authorities have arrested Artsakh presidential advisor David Babayan, TASS reported on Saturday, citing the Azerbaijani Prosecutor...
15:05
Over 360 Artsakh patients continue treatment in Armenia, minister says
A total of 361 people evacuated from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) to Armenia continue their treatment in the country’s medical centers,...
14:33
Cyprus considers sheltering Karabakh Armenian refugees
European Union member Cyprus on Friday said it was considering ways to host, if needed, displaced ethnic Armenians who had fled...
14:06
Azerbaijan destroys monument to Artsakh Liberation War in Hadrut
Azerbaijani forces have destroyed a monument commemorating the Artsakh Liberation War in Ukhtadzor, a village in the Hadrut region of Artsakh...
13:35
Artak Beglaryan: Almost no Armenians left in Artsakh
Almost no Armenians have been left in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), Artak Beglaryan, a former Artsakh ombudsman and state minister, said in a...
13:09
Political analyst blames Pashinyan's policy for loss of Artsakh, major challenges facing Armenia
Political analyst Arman Ghukasyan has blamed the Armenian government’s “reckless” policy for the fall of Artsakh...
12:30
Over 100,400 displaced people cross into Armenia from Artsakh
More than 100,400 forcibly displaced people have crossed into Armenia from Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) in a mass exodus triggered by last...
12:04
'People are tired, full of anxiety': UN agencies say Karabakh emergency escalates
Over 88,000 refugees from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) have fled to Armenia in less than a week and humanitarian needs are surging, the UN refugee...
11:35
UN to send mission to Artsakh ‘over the weekend’
The United Nations will send a mission to Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) for the first time in about 30 years following last week's...
11:28
March, rally to be held in Yerevan on Saturday
A march and a rally are scheduled to be held in Yerevan on Saturday. The march starts near Matenadaran at 3 p.m. to show support for the...
11:01
Armenia files suit against Azerbaijan at UN court
Armenia has filed a lawsuit against Azerbaijan with the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United...
17:05
Former deputy chief of Artsakh army taken captive by Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan’s State Security Service has taken captive Davit Manukyan, a former deputy commander of Artsakh’s (Nagorno-Karabakh)...
16:46
Armenia's Simonyan says not surprised that Turkey, Azerbaijan and Russia 'are often using the same rhetoric'
Azerbaijan’s actions are not confined to Nagorno-Karabakh but extend to the sovereign territories of Armenia, some of which remain under...
16:24
Moscow to discuss extension of Karabakh peacekeeping mission with Baku – Kremlin
The possibility of extension of the Russian peacekeeping mission in Nagorno-Karabakh will be discussed with Azerbaijan, Sputnik reported on...
16:11
Artsakh, Azerbaijani representatives hold fresh talks
Representatives from Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) and Azerbaijan started a new round of talks in the town of Yevlakh late on Friday afternoon,...
15:52
Global humanitarian leaders stand in solidarity with Ruben Vardanyan
Global humanitarian leaders have expressed support for Ruben Vardanyan, a prominent Armenian businessman and philanthropist who was abducted and...
15:36
Some Artsakh refugees died on their way to Armenia, minister says
Armenian Health Minister Anahit Avanesyan has confirmed that some of the Artsakh Armenians, who had to flee their homes following last...
14:59
Azeri forces capture former Artsakh army commander
Azerbaijani security guards captured Lieutenant-General Levon Mnatsakanyan, a former commander of Artsakh’s armed forces, late on Friday...
14:36
March in support of Ruben Vardanyan to be held in Yerevan
A march will be held in Yerevan on Saturday in a show of support for Ruben Vardanyan, a prominent Armenian businessman and...
14:06
Ex-minister: We all betrayed 120,000 Artsakh Armenians
Former Armenian Finance Minister Vardan Aramyan claims Armenia “has betrayed” 120,000 Artsakh people. "We all betrayed...
13:36
Artsakh servicemen can join Armenia's military, official says
The situation along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border is relatively stable, Armenia’s Deputy Defense Minister Arman Sargsyan said on Friday....
12:58
Levon Kocharyan's lawyers ask appellate court to overturn his arrest
The lawyers of former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan’s son, Levon Kocharyan, have challenged his arrest in the appellate court....
12:43
Mayor of Artsakh's Martuni buried at Yerevan military pantheon
Those killed in last week’s Azerbaijani military aggression against Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) are being laid to rest at Yerevan’s...
12:26
Death toll from Artsakh fuel depot blast climbs to 170
The death toll from an explosion at a fuel depot in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) has jumped to 170 people, local authorities announced on Friday....
11:59
Aznavour Foundation says everything must be done for Ruben Vardanyan's release
The Aznavour Foundation has expressed support for prominent Armenian businessman and philanthropist Ruben Vardanyan, saying every effort...
11:36
Over 84,700 displaced people cross into Armenia from Artsakh
More than 84,700 forcibly displaced people have crossed into Armenia from Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) amid a mass exodus following...

Follow us and get updates!

Most popular articles

{"core.blocks.header.spell_message1":"Selected mistake: ","core.blocks.header.spell_message2":"Send a message about the mistake?"}