by Diane Wilson
Years ago, when we were in London, we ended up in a cheeky section of a really great department store. Amidst all the practical and lovey-dovey items were whips and cat of nine tails and other scary gizmos, giving the display the name of Agent Provocateur. All of which brings me to the recent flotilla of ships to Gaza, and whether they were bringing loving humanitarian stuff or were they really there just to whip Israel? Afterall, it has been pointed out that humanitarian aid ships do not come bringing people, but supplies. The Turkish ships were at the very least Agent Provacateurs.
Now, Iranian ships are making their way to Gaza. This is no longer Agent Provacateur. When you have Israel's darkest enemy approaching, it is dead serious.
Let's be clear. Back in 2005, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stated that Israel must be wiped off the map. On October 30, The New York Times published his speech in full, in which he says "that the occupying regime must be wiped off the map...."
Israel has difficult decisions to make in the days ahead, and so do we, for most of us must realize that this is not really about Palestine or Israel. This is a larger matter of East versus West. Some say it was EU's apparent rebuff of Turkey that led to its disenchantment with the West. I would not know. However, I am sure that many of the questions and answers still reside in Turkey, which until recently had been friends with Israel and America.
Thomas Friedman wrote recently in The New York Times about the importance of Turkey and Israel, noting that "both Israel and Turkey have gotten out of balance lately, and it is America’s job to help both get back to the center — urgently."
Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan is no doubt pleasing the street these days, but when I visited, I had thought that Turkey was preparing itself for a more splendid future. I was hopeful that Turkey was accomodating both its secular and religious populations, and seeking its place among developed nations.
Given that our future hinges on spanning differences among nations and cultures, it would be wonderful and logical if Turkey could serve as a nexus for economic and social development between the eastern and western worlds, as well as between Muslim, Christian and Jewish worlds. Unlike Iran, Turkey has everything and everybody at its disposal. Over the years, Turkey has created immense goodwill that must not be lost.
It would be more than unfortunate to see Turkey move into the Iranian fold because the EU wasn't kind, or because an opportunity exists to lead the East. Turkey could have a bigger and better role than all that. Turkey could be the focal point for negotiation and resolution. Turkey could be the example the West needs to understand the East. Then there's geography. Given the fact Turkey spans Asia and Europe, we need the leadership Turkey could offer.
Anybody who has listened to the call to prayer and looked out on the Bosphorus knows that Turkey harbours dreams. It is time for Turkey to create lasting and meaningful realities.
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