Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in the Eid Message that he released, “We are developing our relations with Israel and Russia. Positive steps from both parties, these last weeks, are giving hope for the future. We are overcoming the crisis that originated from the Syria problem, terrorism, artificial stresses and are restoring the relations that were cut.”

Comment:

AKP (Justice and Development Party) government is making fast pragmatist “U” turns in their Jewish entity, Russia and Egypt policies, in the last years. There are indications that they will do so with Syria. There are rumours that Russia will not be satisfied with Erdogan’s letter, that they will also demand from Turkey to change its Syria and Iraq policies alongside the apology and compensation. AKP had been claiming for years that they carried out “politics with principles”. They were describing the Turkish Foreign Policy as “valuable solitude”. However these pragmatist “U” turns that are happening in the Foreign Policies had happened countless times in the past with America. But because this time it happened with “the Jewish entity” and “Russia” it continues to be discussed in the public. That is why Erdogan, even in his Eid (Holiday) message, makes “emphasis on Foreign Policy”.

Erdogan stated in his message that, “Cut or ruined relations because of the Syria problem will be restored” and stated, “it will leave its depression in international relations.” He finishes it at the same time with this situation’s benefits for “economic and great projects”.

First of all Russia and the Jewish entity are both terrorist entities. Erdogan himself kept “roaring” against them on his rallies. Civilians of the Jewish entity and Russia were expressing that they were massacring innocent Muslims. He was saying that Russia was killing civilians in Syria under the pretext of hitting ISIS, that the Jewish entity was a terrorist state. So, what is meant by “normalisation with the Jewish entity and Russia” is: Flat out helping out the massacring of Muslims, the refugee situations, their arrest and isolation.

When the policy change had happened on the Jewish entity, President Erdogan had targeted IHH (Humanitarian Relied Foundation) and gave a message but through it to all factions, especially to AKP’s components and base. Even though he “himself gave permission” to the Mavi Marmara relief ship, he said; “Did you ask the Prime Minister of the time?” He denied his own words by saying, in other words, “did you ask me?” despite the existence of hundreds of written and visual evidence on the subject. On the other hand the media and trolls have begun praising the agreement to stop the criticism that would arise. Before the public could even start discussing the normalisation agreement with the Jewish entity, this time the news of Erdogan’s “apology letter to Russia” came and after that the softening messages towards Egypt and Syria.

Even though the amount of criticism in public against the government and President Erdoğan is small, it would not be wrong to say that Muslims feel uncomfortable for the recent developments. Because the relation between the Gulen Jama’ah and AKP and the point reached after it is still hot, criticisms on this situation are for now put off. But we can say that the majority of the Muslims who voted for AKP are annoyed of this situation. That is why whenever Erdogan is on camera he always goes into the subjects of Russia and the Jewish entity. That is why, even in Erdogan’s Eid (Holiday) message, there is “emphasis on Foreign Policy”.

Osman YILDIZ