Mending Turkish-US relations

My article ended: “I hope that in 2005 Turkey realizes once again that it needs the United States more than ever as it waits at the door of European Union, and that the United States realizes once again that it cannot establish a new order in the Middle East without Turkey.”

The visit of Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül to Israel and the Palestinian State last week was very important in the sense that it gave people like me hope that both sides can once again realize their need of each other.

Some of them are insincere in what they say, but the pressure from their people urges them to behave so.

It is exactly like the reaction of the Turkish Government to the U.S. –led invasion of Iraq.

The government has to act as if it disapproves, but is deeply scared of the possibility that the United States may leave Iraq.

If the United States is able to give the impression to the people of the Middle-East that it is sincere in its attempt to solve the “Palestinian problem,” I trust it will be backed by most of its policies in the area.

If the United States wants to take a new initiative, as it seems to, it is only Turkey who stands closest to all involved parties simultaneously, i.e. Israel, Palestine and the United States.

Turkey, like Egypt, wants to “live together with Israel” as both have recognized the long-term reality of Israel.

At the same time it is Turkey that can communicate this to the Palestinian government who will hopefully be more open for an optimal peace after Mahmoud Abbas takes over.

Turkey has been generously helping the Palestinian people recently and historically Turkey has played the role of “big brother,” a term, moreover, valued very highly in the Middle-East.

If the United States can convince the people of the Middle-East that it is sincere in its “peace-seeking” efforts, it will once again earn his reputation as the “imperial benevolent state.”