Erdogan urges UN sanctions on Israel

[Jefferson23]

In interview with Time magazine Turkish PM says Israeli-Palestinian conflict would have been resolved long ago if UN had imposed sanctions on Israel; says Israeli gov't not honest about flotilla


Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is advocating imposing UN sanctions on Israel. In an interview with Time magazine the Turkish leader said that had prospective UN sanctions been imposed on Israel "the Palestine-Israel conflict would have been resolved a long time ago."


Appearing at the UN General Assembly Erdogan claimed that the US approach towards the Middle East peace process had failed. Asked what he would have done differently, Erdogan said: "Do we really want to resolve this issue or not? Unfortunately, I do not even see traces of this within the Quartet. Because if the Quartet was so willing to resolve this issue, they would have imposed certain issues on Israel today.

"Until today, the UN Security Council has issued more than 89 resolutions on prospective sanctions related to Israel, but they've never been executed. And furthermore, there were about 200 resolutions issued by the General Assembly and neither have those been complied with."

in full: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4128605,00.html

[azurnoir]

1. yep and there is one and only one reason why no UN sanctions

have ever been instituted against Israel that is the US and its protectionism of Israel at all costs to us no matter what they are or how many US citizens they hurt

[Jefferson23]

2. Evidently, Erdogan is not letting up.

The US will only do that if THEY (government) can benefit by it in some way. I wish I knew how much longer
the special friendship goes on as it does currently.

[azurnoir]

3. well the IMO the government as a whole doesn;t really benefit however

individual politicians do indeed benefit quite handsomely

[Jefferson23]

5. You're being rational, and realize the short and long term benefits.

I don't think that describe US foreign policy on this matter and certainly not our overall plans either. I have
no guess what will trigger a change, how much more egg does one country wish to wear on its face in the ME.

[azurnoir]

17. well it would help if the uS did not talk out both sides of its mouth

aws it did last February or today for that matter the settlements 'disappoint' us but........

[bemildred]

4. I think he wants to force Uncle Sugar to take a consistent position.

And he estimates that he can get away with it now. It is certainly in Turkey's interest to have these issues settled. He has taken out after Little Assad and Ghaddaffi too, and done things that will annoy Iran, so it's hard to say he is just being arbitrary.

That piece talking about the brouhaha at the UN he was involved in mentioned that he was a big fan of Abbas, which lead me to wonder if he had something to do with Abbas growing a spine.

[Jefferson23]

6. I hope he doesn't let up. How cool is that, if Erdogan is assisting

on any level that helps Abbas remain persistent..I say, great.

[bemildred]

16. Abbas is/was in a very weak position, so it is natural to want some backup.

And as is so frequently poiinted out here, the Arab states have preferred to make noise and kick the can down the road. So Turkey's increased involvement could help explain the change in Abbas.

[Jefferson23]

18. Depending on how Egypt's elections work out, Abbas should be able to

count on more than noise from them.

[bemildred]

21. Eh, maybe. Egypt has urgent internal issues.

I will be surprised to see them act as aggressively internationally as Erdogan has, unless as you say there is further change after the elections. Foreign adventures only help you secure domestic power if you win.

The current Turkish government OTOH sits quite comfortably in power, at least for the moment. Erdogan is not throwing his weightaround just because he wants to, but because he can.

[Jefferson23]

25. I think Egypt will, they are not in an immediate position to do so, but

yes..the elections will be a major factor imo...that is the key. As far as their economic plight, I agree, they want what any country
wants..deal with the fact that we need to work on producing a thriving economy immediately. But I do not see the Egyptian citizens
putting up quietly while watching the occupation. The better their lives become the more it will likely fuel anger them to see the status quo in place for Palestinians.


The polls are pretty clear, although certainly not sacrosanct, something like 90% perceive the US as a threat, they also have not appreciated Mubarak being a tool for Israel.

If they build a strong government moving forward and indicate they can become an economic power in the ME, Israel will be much more
reluctant to ever try another OCL. For their own selfish reasons the Saudis loved Mubarak, and as I understand it, they have been
putting a great deal of money in Egypt..that is my main concern for them. It could have terrible results that could counter the will of the people.

I guess I look at it this way, Israel and the US got what they wanted from Egypt b/c of Mubarak, so he was no threat to their interests. The
opposite of him changes the status quo, that is the threat to Israel but holds promise for the Palestinians in the long term.

The government may be reluctant to help as governments are smart to not over-reach, but if they are foolish to ignore their
citizens too often, well..they already experienced what the result can be.

[bemildred]

27. OK. You are thinking longer term than I was.

Long term in Egypt, I think all "options are on the table." And that is actually much more dangerous for Israel than anything Turkey will do.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

9. He has to keep the distraction going so people forget about the oil and gas he is after

[shira]

11. Shhh, it's best to pretend oil and gas has zero to do with this. n/t

[bemildred]

12. He is certainly making a fuss about the oil and gas.

But I think it is a mistake to infer that it is "just" about the oil and gas.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

7. Will he accept them being placed on Turkey for it ongoing occpation of Cyprus

[vminfla]

8. Well, no.

Erdogan is not interested in promoting peace, but in assisting the fomenting of hostilities against Israel.

[Jefferson23]

10. Are you seriously waiting for the remainder of the world to get everything

set straight in their own backyard before they get behind a political position to make demands on Israel?

If that were the suggestion, the United States would need to be mum for some time.

[shira]

13. Yeah, that will happen with Hezbollah (Lebanon) at the helm of the UNSCR now...

What a f-cking joke....

[azurnoir]

15. so now Hezbollah leads the UNSC that is news

"Yeah, that will happen with Hezbollah (Lebanon) at the helm of the UNSCR now..."

or is it that all of Lebanon is Hezbollah

[shira]

20. Glad you learned something today. n/t

[azurnoir]

22. some people will say any extremist stuff but I did not learn that t today

[azurnoir]

14. wasn't the 'Turkish Invasion" a response to an attempted Greek coup? and more over it is Greece not

Turkey rejecting any attempt to settle the situation

The United Nations Security Council decisions for the immediate unconditional withdrawal of all foreign troops from Cyprus soil and the safe return of the refugees to their homes have not been implemented by Turkey and the TRNC.<95> Turkey and TRNC defend their position, stating that any such withdrawal would have led to a resumption of intercommunal fighting and killing.

Negotiations to find a solution to the Cyprus problem have been taking place on and off since 1964. Between 1974 and 2002, the Turkish Cypriot side (effectively controlled by the Turkish government) was seen by the international community as the side refusing a balanced solution. Since 2002, the situation has been reversed according to US and UK officials, and the Greek Cypriot side rejected a plan which would have called for the dissolution of the Republic of Cyprus without guarantees that the Turkish occupation forces would be removed. The latest Annan Plan to reunify the island which was endorsed by the United States, United Kingdom and Turkey was accepted by a referendum by Turkish Cypriots but overwhelmingly rejected in parallel referendum by Greek Cypriots, after Greek Cypriot Leadership and Greek Orthodox Church urging the Greek population to vote No.<96>

Greek Cypriots rejected the UN settlement plan in an April 2004 referendum. On 24 April 2004, the Greek Cypriots rejected by a three-to-one margin the plan proposed by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan for the settlement of the Cyprus dispute. The plan, which was approved by a two-to-one margin by the Turkish Cypriots in a separate but simultaneous referendum, would have created a United Cyprus Republic and ensured that the entire island would reap the benefits of Cyprus' entry into the European Union on 1 May. The plan would have created a United Cyprus Republic consisting of a Greek Cypriot constituent state and a Turkish Cypriot constituent state linked by a federal government. More than half of the Greek Cypriots who were displaced in 1974 and their descendants would have had their properties returned to them and would have lived in them under Greek Cypriot administration within a period of 31/2 to 42 months after the entry into force of the settlement. For those whose property could not be returned, they would have received monetary compensation.

The entire island entered the EU on 1 May 2004 still divided, although the EU acquis communautaire – the body of common rights and obligations – applies only to the areas under direct government control, and is suspended in the areas occupied by the Turkish military and administered by Turkish Cypriots. However, individual Turkish Cypriots able to document their eligibility for Republic of Cyprus citizenship legally enjoy the same rights accorded to other citizens of European Union states. Nicosia continues to oppose EU efforts to establish direct trade and economic links to occupied north Cyprus as a way of encouraging the Turkish Cypriot community to continue to support the resolution of the Cyprus dispute.

This page was last modified on 27 September 2011 at 11:52

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_invasion_of_Cyprus

but I do find your new found concern here oh so touching

[bemildred]

19. You can trace that one all the way back to WWI, at least.

And much further (like Troy) if so inclined. The modern Turkish state arose following WWI in a long war with the Greeks:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Turkish_War_%281919%E2%80%931922%29

It is true that the current situation in Cyprus arose after a coup that Turkey objected to in 1974, but that was preceded by an extended period of ethnic violence, and like I said, you can trace that back as far as you like.

[azurnoir]

23. ya it goes way back perhaps Troy?

eta but with all due respect Sir I prefer staying with the current situation that seems to have its origins in the 'invasion'

[bemildred]

24. No wandering too far afield, eh?

Shucks.

[azurnoir]

26. its interesting stuff but for right here right now well

geez you just made me feel like an old fogey ;)

[bemildred]

28. You gotta watch out for me, I'm tricky.

:-)

[bemildred]

29. In Riddle of Mideast Upheaval, Turkey Offers Itself as an Answer

ISTANBUL — Not so long ago, the foreign policy of Turkey revolved around a single issue: the divided island of Cyprus. These days, its prime minister may be the most popular figure in the Middle East, its foreign minister envisions a new order there and its officials have managed to do what the Obama administration has so far failed to: position themselves firmly on the side of change in the Arab revolts and revolutions.

No one is ready to declare a Pax Turkana in the Middle East, and indeed, its foreign policy is strewn this year with missteps, crises and gains that feel largely rhetorical. It even lacks enough diplomats. But in an Arab world where the United States seems in retreat, Europe ineffectual and powers like Israel and Iran unsettled and unsure, officials of an assertive, occasionally brash Turkey have offered a vision for what may emerge from turmoil across two continents that has upended decades of assumptions.

---

The country’s foreign policy seized the attention of many in the Middle East and beyond after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s tour this month of three Arab countries that have witnessed revolutions: Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. Even Mr. Erdogan’s critics were impressed with the symbolism of the trip.

Though many criticize his streak of authoritarianism at home, the public abroad seemed taken by a prime minister who portrayed himself as the proudly Muslim leader of a democratic and prosperous country that has come out forcefully on the side of revolution and in defense of Palestinian rights.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/27/world/europe/in-mideast-riddle-turkey-offers-itself-as-an-answer.html

[Jefferson23]

30. I can't help but wonder how these OP's are digested here at home..

after reading the morning papers do they sit back and think, ah..I got this covered too or what?

[bemildred]

31. My guess would be something along the lines of "too bad but":

Then there is "I have bigger fish to fry", and "we have to get ourselves re-elected", and "don't rock the boat, you could lose your job".

But the REAL problem is that people who speak out are savaged for it, that calls for punishment; and so real communication dies, everything sort of grinds to a halt in policy terms, change from within becomes impossible, old policies become a strait jacket, and here we are.

We are spending a lot more time clinging to past glory and propping up our delusions of grandeur than figuring out some new and better future path to follow. But I suppose that when you are pretending to be emperor of the universe, there is just nowhere to go but down.

[Jefferson23]

32. lol.

well said.