{"id":17772,"date":"2024-11-19T06:50:40","date_gmt":"2024-11-19T06:50:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gpt.m2mbeta.com\/?p=17772"},"modified":"2024-11-19T06:50:40","modified_gmt":"2024-11-19T06:50:40","slug":"turkish-foreign-minister-declares-he-is-in-a-war-with-israel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gpt.m2mbeta.com\/?p=17772","title":{"rendered":"Turkish foreign minister declares he is \u2018in a war\u2019 with Israel"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Levent Kenez\/Stockholm<\/p>\n

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, during a November 15 interview broadcast on A Haber, a government-aligned television channel run by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan\u2019s family, stated that he is \u201cin a war\u201d and has \u201cno luxury to show feelings\u201d when asked about his emotional response to the ongoing crisis in Gaza. Fidan also emphasized Turkey\u2019s preparations for potential uncertainties under US President-elect Donald Trump\u2019s second administration.<\/p>\n

In the interview, which was filled with praise for Trump, Fidan issued a warning about the potential for broader conflict if meaningful consequences are not imposed on Israel and its supporters for their actions in Gaza. He emphasized, \u201cCountries in the Middle East that fail to take necessary initiatives on this matter may face significant problems. There is substantial grassroots and public pressure, but unless a sufficient cost is incurred, there is no halt to these actions. This could lead to a larger war and widespread issues, both in the East and the West.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fidan addressed the ongoing situation in Gaza, condemning what he described as plans for the complete expulsion of Palestinians from the territory, their displacement to the Sinai Desert or Lebanon and the occupation of the West Bank. He added, \u201cThe process seems to be moving toward a point where, if there is no Palestine left, there will be no \u2018Palestinian issue\u2019 either.\u201d<\/p>\n

The minister highlighted that Israel and its backers continue their policies because they face little to no significant repercussions. \u201cUnless they pay a political, military or economic price, they will persist,\u201d he said. Fidan noted that, while key countries like Turkey and members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation have taken clear stances, including Turkey\u2019s decision to completely halt trade with Israel, such measures alone are largely symbolic and insufficient to stop what he described as genocide.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Turkish FM Fidan appeared as a guest on A Haber, a government-aligned television channel run by the family of President Erdogan, on November 15.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

However, Fidan\u2019s statement about halting trade with Israel does not fully reflect the reality. Ankara announced on April 9 that it would impose trade restrictions on Israel in response to the Gaza conflict. Critics argue that trade with Israel is simply being rerouted through Palestine and other third countries, effectively bypassing the embargo. Since trade restrictions on Israel were imposed in April, trade volume with Palestine has surged dramatically, raising doubts about the government\u2019s narrative while providing needed income. This trend, many suggest, may be evidence that Turkey\u2019s trade with Israel continues despite the official restrictions. According to foreign trade data released by the Turkish Exporters Assembly on November 2, Turkish trade with Palestine increased by 672 percent in October compared to the previous year, reaching a total of $95,406,250. The Erdogan government has still been criticized by pro-Palestinian groups for allowing the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) to transport Azerbaijani oil via pipelines to Turkey\u2019s southern port of Ceyhan and subsequently ship it to Israel.<\/p>\n

Fidan also pointed to other mechanisms where consequences might start to materialize, including shifts in elections in the West. \u201cWe saw the Palestinian issue play a role in the US elections. Traditionally, Muslim, Arab and [other] oppressed communities tend to support Democrats. This time, many leaned toward Republicans, punishing [what are seen as] double standards,\u201d Fidan observed. He predicted similar developments in Europe, where he said such problems are likely to surface.<\/p>\n

Fidan was also asked by one of the interviewers about his personal feelings regarding the harrowing reports emerging from Gaza. The journalist stated, \u201cYou have access to more information and are closer to the situation than we are. We hear about what\u2019s happening in Gaza through the images and accounts we receive \u2014 thousands of children missing, women subjected to immoral treatment, and reports of Israeli soldiers burning people alive. As a father, how do you feel about this?\u201d<\/p>\n

He responded, \u201cI am in a war. I do not have the luxury of showing my feelings.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hakan Fidan, a potential leader of the ruling party after President Erdogan, frequently makes statements aimed at appealing to the conservative and nationalist grassroots. During his time as head of the Turkish Intelligence Agency (M\u0130T), Fidan cultivated a mysterious and hawkish image through M\u0130T-supported troll social media accounts. As foreign minister, he seeks to maintain this image. Under Erdogan\u2019s authoritarian leadership, M\u0130T holds a central position in Turkey\u2019s power structure. After the May 28, 2023 elections, Fidan was appointed by Erdogan to be foreign minister. While Erdo\u011fan assigned Fidan to a prestigious role, he also ensured that Fidan\u2019s influence was somewhat reduced. Fidan\u2019s replacement at M\u0130T was Erdo\u011fan\u2019s relative, \u0130brahim Kal\u0131n.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Hakan Fidan attended the meeting between President Erdo\u011fan and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in New York on September 20, 2023.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

During the interview, Fidan also shared his predictions regarding the second term in office of US President-elect Trump. Fidan stated that Ankara had prior experience working with the Trump administration, emphasizing the personal rapport between Erdogan and Trump. \u201cWe worked together during Trump\u2019s previous tenure, and our president had a strong personal relationship with Mr. Trump,\u201d Fidan said. He added that this diplomatic advantage was used to address inherent challenges in bilateral relations. However, he acknowledged that leaders\u2019 efforts could only go so far, as realities ultimately necessitate taking definitive positions.<\/p>\n

Fidan noted that Turkey was moving forward based on lessons learned from Trump\u2019s first term. He refrained from speculating on Trump\u2019s future preferences or cabinet, explaining, \u201cDrawing conclusions based on personal histories in politics often proves inconsistent. There is a saying: \u2018Heavy lies the crown.\u2019 We believe this principle will also apply here.\u201d He stressed the importance of preparing for uncertainties and brainstorming alternative policy scenarios for a potential second Trump term.<\/p>\n

Commenting on American foreign policy, Fidan claimed that over the years, US politics had established a pro-Israel equilibrium, which he said had become deeply embedded in Congress and the broader political environment. \u201cSupporting Israel, even to the extent of advancing a Zionist agenda, has become almost a prerequisite in American politics,\u201d he asserted. Fidan criticized the US approach, noting that under the Biden administration, events in Gaza had reached what he described as a level of genocide. He cautioned that similar adverse developments regarding Israel were likely during Republican administrations as well. \u201cWe hope Trump fulfills his promise not to start new wars, extending this commitment to the Palestinian issue,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Regarding US ties with the Kurdish forces in Syria, Fidan argued that these relationships were primarily justified by American interests in the region\u2019s oil resources and Israel\u2019s security. He remarked, \u201cWe have clearly communicated to our American counterparts that if there is a structure threatening Turkey, our fight will continue, even beyond our borders.\u201d He emphasized that this approach marked Turkey\u2019s shift from a defensive to a preventive strategy. \u201cOther regional actors and countries need to understand our resolve,\u201d Fidan said, insisting that Turkey\u2019s actions were not about expansionism but about securing its national safety.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

Source: <\/em> politics.einnews.com\u2026<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Levent Kenez\/Stockholm Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, during a November 15 interview broadcast on A Haber, a government-aligned television channel run by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan\u2019s family, stated that he is \u201cin a war\u201d and has \u201cno luxury to show feelings\u201d when asked about his emotional response to the ongoing crisis in Gaza. Fidan also […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17772","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gpt.m2mbeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17772","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gpt.m2mbeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gpt.m2mbeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gpt.m2mbeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gpt.m2mbeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=17772"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gpt.m2mbeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17772\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gpt.m2mbeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=17772"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gpt.m2mbeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=17772"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gpt.m2mbeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=17772"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}