It had been a year since the "One Minute" crisis. Tension was escalating in Ankara-Tel Aviv relations. Türkiye was openly targeting Israel's regional interests. One of these was the nuclear crisis between Israel and its main ally, the US. At the time, discussions were underway about Iran being next in line after the Iraq invasion. Ankara realized this would lead the region to the brink and, together with Brazil, brokered a trilateral nuclear deal (Iran's undeserved gesture would later be understood with the war crimes committed in Syria a few years later).
Just a few days after the agreement on May 17, 2010, Erdogan - with one foot in Brazil - embarked on a tour of Latin America (I was also following this trip on behalf of the newspaper I worked for). The Turkish delegation cut short their visit due to the May 31st Mavi Marmara attack. As Erdogan left Chile, he issued an ultimatum to Israel, saying "Release the hostages immediately." At the time, there was talk of a possible military escalation in Türkiye. While Türkiye and Israel did not come into military confrontation, a sharp cold war began between the two countries thereafter.
From this point on, what I will write are the headings of the heavy price Türkiye has paid due to its regional interests, independent foreign policy, and sensitivity to Gaza.
THE NUCLEUS OF THE ANTI-TURKISH COALITION
Firstly, Israel made its first move to make Türkiye pay through the Fethullahist Terror Organization. At the time, a list of 50 people was sent to the Istanbul police, controlled by FETO. FETO members, encouraged by Israel, expanded this list and the operation umbrella. The process, sponsored by Tel Aviv, began with the arrest of former Chief of General Staff Ilker Basbug and later with the February 7th crisis. The extended list I mentioned emerged years later with the 17-25 December process, the Selam-Tevhid files, and similar entrapment cases. Summary: The root causes of this coup attempt, which reached its peak with the July 15th coup attempt, extend back to Davos and Mavi Marmara. (Don't forget the support given to PKK in Iraq and Syria.)
Secondly, the price paid was not limited to domestic developments. Israel was also forming regional coalitions motivated by anti-Turkish sentiments. One leg of the Israel-centered Sphere Alliance was targeting Türkiye. During that period, Türkiye witnessed smear campaigns by the Muhammad Dahlan line aimed at Türkiye and its exclusion from regional initiatives. Remember the efforts of the consortium, including Israel, to confine Türkiye to its shores in the Eastern Mediterranean, and Ankara's response with the Blue Homeland doctrine and the Libya move.
THE EUROFIGHTER'S RELATION TO GAZA
Thirdly, Türkiye has paid indirect costs as well. The hand of the Israel lobby is long. It is also influential on the US. It knows well how to instrumentalize Washington. The interrupted negotiations between Türkiye and Japan for the nuclear power plant, the cancellation of various credits for Türkiye, especially by Germany, the beginning of covert arms embargoes by European countries can be cited as examples. The reason why Germany is resisting the Eurofighter today is also this. I wrote, "Ankara is being shown a stick under the guise of its people-centered foreign policy in Palestine." (See; Is it Before the Last Exit Warning of Eurofighter? November 2023).
Let's come to today. The regional conjuncture after October 7th was more or less as follows: Israel was attacking Gaza under the pretext and goal of destroying Hamas. The US had given Tel Aviv a carte blanche. European Union countries, especially Germany, did not want to hear any "buts" and blindly supported Israel. Iran and its proxy force Hezbollah were making so-called statements, and despite Hamas' implications of being "fooled," they were turning a blind eye. Leading regional countries, including Jordan, had reached an agreement with the US on "the destruction of Hamas but not allowing a permanent occupation." These states had no exit plan and would wait for the conflict to end for the continuation of the normalization process with Israel.
THE TABLE HAS TURNED
So what happened next? Ankara came out with a diplomatic framework and argument. It proposed a guarantor system. It said, "If there is no two-state solution, it won't work." It led the Quartet's efforts. It drew Gulf countries to its position. The chain reaction of this had the same effect on the US, which wanted to control the Gulf countries in this crisis. Dig under the Biden-Netanyahu fight you read about every day, and you'll find this process. It tried to bring Palestinian groups together for a solution and a two-state solution. Meetings were held in Ankara with the initiatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Intelligence Organization. One of the participants in the talks was killed by Israel, and the process was blocked. It pressured for humanitarian aid to reach Gaza, made diplomatic efforts, and became the country that sent the most aid. It withdrew its ambassador on the first day, suspended energy talks. It brought many injured Palestinians to Türkiye for treatment.
TÜRKİYE'S AGENDA OF THE WAR CABINET
What was the response to this? Israel prevented an aid attempt to Gaza by air. Israel's war cabinet made Türkiye the agenda (See, Are Intelligence Wars Starting, December 2023). From the Prime Minister to ministers, from intelligence agencies to the military, all actors in Israel targeted Türkiye. MOSSAD declared Türkiye an operational area. ISIS attacked a church in Istanbul. An unprecedented war between MIT and MOSSAD began.
These examples, events, can be multiplied. Where Ankara stands, its position is clear. Despite this picture, in recent days, Türkiye has been portrayed as if it supports Israel, even as if it is a partner in crime. The waters are being muddied, sincere minds are being directed. Even Baykar is being squeezed into the murky atmosphere. How do you say it? It's shameful, my friend. It's a shame, it's a sin, it's a crime.
