It can be said that Israel is experiencing its most difficult days since its establishment in 1948. The shame created in the West by Jews, who were subjected to the Nazi Holocaust during the Second World War, constituted a great credit in the establishment and support of the state of Israel.
Certainly, in the formation of this credit, the worldwide Jewish intellectuals that established the state of Israel, scientists and artists had also important contributions. The widespread Anglo-Saxon support, which sees the support for Israel as a duty, and international institutions including the UN, prevented the condemnation of Israel or the implementation of international sanctions against this state. However, in our day, it can be said that Israel does not have the right to move comfortably anymore. Since its establishment, Israel, which has been notably disobedient to international law, should become aware of the reality that it rapidly uses up the tolerance given to it.
Israel needs to take the responsibility for its policies and to think about learning lessons. Declaring every criticism against Israel to be an act of anti-Semitism, or overcome criticism by recalling the Holocaust, does not help to solve anything. Every state is responsible for its implementations. However, the approach of 'Israel has always excuses' does not only start to damage Israel, but also the Jews, spread around the world. As a matter of fact, the public opinions in Europe indicate that huge antipathy towards Israel is raising. We are in a period in which a strong wind is blowing in the opposite direction even in the streets of the West. Despite this, it is impossible that Israel continues being to be unable to think clearly like a driver in a wrong lane who blames everybody coming from the opposite direction. Turkey is one the most important balancing factors urging Israel to behave more rationally in its region and to abandon its policies that imperil Jews around the world. Turkey, which has opened its territories to persecuted Jewish people throughout history and has recognized Israel's existence since its establishment, has the right to state clearly the realities of this state. The statement by the Israeli government that 'Turkey is the last country to give a lesson to us', is not only an unfortunate declaration from this perspective but also ignores the philosophy of Turkish-Israeli relations. Rather, Israel should approach Turkey's criticism from the perspective that “a friend is cruel to be kind.”
Nobody can turn a blind eye to Turkey's good intentions and efforts to contribute to regional stability as an indirect mediator in the negotiations between Syria and Israel in 2007-2008. Despite this positive effort, the statement that 'Turkey is the last country to criticize Turkey' is only attributable to Lieberman who is known for his radical attitude. Turkey comes first amongst the countries that have the right to criticize Israel. The reasoning for this situation should be sought in history, for the Turks do not have any bad records towards the Jews and are not pursuing any hidden agenda in the Middle East.
In order to understand who is in the right lane in Turkish-Israeli relations, it is enough to look at the reality that Israel comes first in the list of the countries that seriously pose a threat to world peace, even in the eyes of the Western world from which Israel receives a great deal of support, while Turkey has favorability ratings of 75% in the streets of the Middle East. Therefore, as soon as possible, it would be beneficial for Israeli officials to give up arguing with Turks and to keep their ears cocked towards Turkish advice. The Israeli officials who attempt to score points in the domestic arena with criticism against Israeli policies will not help solve any problems through peculiarities such as the latest Ambassador crisis. Wayward egoist politics will not only isolate Israel, but will also become a fuel for much feared anti-Semitic movements.
A friend is cruel to be kind; maybe this friend is Turkey.
