Chralie rose with Erdogan of Turkey

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Permalink Reply by alice faye on June 30, 2010 at 7:47am

I saw the interview also......Refreshing !

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Permalink Reply by Basil Keilani on July 2, 2010 at 11:25pm

The thing is Ohad Turkey has many political interests. The world is not as black and white as many people often think. Turkey has interests in keeping the Kurds of Iraq happy and accepting their autonomy while maintaining peace in Eastern Turkey and trying to integrate the Kurds. At the same time, it has business interests in the Middle East, Europe, and Central Asia.

Israel is only one country. There are 22 Arab states. That can mean development projects and tourism from Arab states. It's more economic relations than it has with Israel. However, Turkey knows that Israel is good friends with the USA. The Turkish elites in government don't really like Israel's behavior, and I am sure Israel is not crazy about Turkey in many ways, too. Turkey also went to Central Asia to help mediate between the dispute between the Kyrgyz and Uzbeks., It's good for their country to do so. Turkey doesn't want to put all its basket in the European Union basket, and Israel's hostility towards Arabs helps Turkey's businessmen.

Turks have mixed feelings about Israel. There are Israelis and Turks who like each other without a doubt. Some Turks really dislike Israelis and Jews and have anti-Semitism, but you can say the same about Israel and Muslims and Turks and Arabs.
Israel for example complained about some Turkish series. However, Israel recently produced horrible videos after the
incident with the ships and anti-Muslim stuff is in the press there, too. It's both ways. Turks have blood and religious ties to Palestinians. So, of course, they care about the Palestinians just as some Jews in America care about Israel. It's not unusual.

A major problem is the Israeli government provokes people outside and then calls everyone anti-Semite. There is a good way to behave and bad way no matter what your race or religion. Israeli leaders still need to be responsible. I mean when Gaddafi acted inappropriately, he paid a heavy price with his country. It doesn't mean people hate Libyans. We need responsible leaders in the region.

We do need peace, but it comes with justice. There needs to be good relations between Israelis and Arabs and Turks, but it won't come with a seige, blockade, rockets, missiles, racism, anger, and settlements and occupation. It requires not only good words, but good actions from all sides.

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Permalink Reply by Ohad Bracha on July 3, 2010 at 1:21am

Basil what you say is all true.
Israel is only one country but its my country so as an Israeli I am listening the most to what is relevant to me . not to mention that about 50% of the interview was about Israel and Palestine. and obviously thats what I am most interested about. how he see the future relationship, how does he see Salam fayyad , the peace proses , the relationship with the US and with the west, all this is in the minds of every Israeli today

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Permalink Reply by Basil Keilani on July 3, 2010 at 3:54am

Ohad, of course, Israel is important to you. Turkey has relations with Iran. It's a neighbor of Turkey's.
Turkey has business interests with Iran, natural gas interests, Iran is in the Caspian area, and they have a long border.

Turkey has no proof that Iran is trying to develop a nuclear program, and it doesn't want to endanger its relations with Iran based on Israel's fears. It also thinks that the problems Israel has with Iran are partially of its own making.
Israel fears Hamas, but Hamas was elected democratically. Israel and other states didn't deal properly with a group that was elected democratically. I didn't agree with how he portrayed the rocket firings. More people were killed than Erdogan said, but he has a point that so few were killed, and that Israel killed a very large amount of Palestinians.
He doesn't really see that Fayyad can do so much without Israel making a change change in its policies. He sees the problem with Israeli politicians and theri actions

What can Israel do to improve things in the region? Israel's policies have not worked for producing good-will. It has angered many friends. Turkey is not a perfect country. People can say it has problems with the Kurds and PKK.
I understand that, but it is working on improving the situation for Kurds. What is Israel doing with the Palestinians?

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Permalink Reply by Ohad Bracha on July 3, 2010 at 4:03am

I think that when you say turkey you mean Basil :)

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Permalink Reply by Basil Keilani on July 3, 2010 at 6:01am

Ohad, I knew you would say that.:) But it's largely what Erdogan said. He said that Hamas was democratically elected, and that if there is seriousness about democracy, they should have been given a proper chance. He mentioned democracy several times in the interview. He also said that he is not addressing his criticisms towards the Israeli people, but to the Israeli leader, and he shouldn't feel afraid to criticize when he says deaths of Palestinians.

Point well taken. But, I think Turkey's PM did say they have a long border, gas interests, and a 1639 understanding with Iran, Persia. It's strange that he mentioned some understanding during the time of the Ottoman Empire.

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Permalink Reply by Eyal Raviv on July 5, 2010 at 11:44am

Agreed. :)

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