Consider:
- On May 31st a flotilla of ships organized by the Turkish Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief tried to run the Israeli blockade of the Gaza strip. As expected, the Israelis used military force to stop the flotilla from ever reaching the shore. Nine Turks died before the day was over.
- The following week the Turkish ambassador to the United Nations demanded that the UN mandate an international inquiry on the blockade, Turkish prosecutors charged several Israeli generals and government officials with murder, and Prime Minister Recep Tayyib Erdogan branded those who opposed to his newer muscular foreign policy as “pawns of Tel Aviv.”
- On September 12th a series of constitutional amendments proposed by Mr. Erdogan were approved by means of a popular nation-wide referendum.
Conclusion: Mission accomplished.
With the passage of these reforms Recep Tayyib Erdogan has become one of the most important men in the history of the Turkish Republic. Only Ataturk himself has claim to higher glory. Furthermore, now having freed itself from the specter of military dictatorship and secular extremism, Turkey has shown that a people dedicate themselves to both Islamic values and pluralistic democracy. The rest of the Middle East would do good to see Ankara as its model.
It is thus in America’s interest to grow closer to Turkey. On this matter I am less optimistic; I fear our concern for Israel will stop us from taking the prudent course.
FURTHER READING:
Most Western media outlets have given little attention to affairs in Turkey. The same cannot be said of the Israeli, Turkish, and Middle Eastern presses. Here are a few select pieces, to be updated as the day continues:
Al Jazeera is running a special feature of the referendum, “Spotlight: Turkey’s Choice.” Two articles from this series were particularly good:
Evan Hill. Al Jazeera. 13 September 2010.
Ibrahim Rahil. Al Jazeera. 13 September 2010.
From the Israeli Haaretz:
Alon Liel. Haaretz. 13 September 2010.
The Turkish paper Today’s Zaman has published a geographical break down of the referendum’s results:
The Turkish Hurriyet Daily News has a few articles worth reading as well:
Hurriyet Daily News. 13 September 2010.
Hurriyet Daily News. 13 September 2010.
Interesting results. The no votes were primarily along the Mediterranean coast, and the yes votes were in the interior (with the exception of Tunceli).
Tunceli is home to a large number of Alevis (followers of a variety of heterodox Muslim sects which incorporate Shiite beliefs). Like the Syrian Alawites (a related but distinct religious sect) they have a history of conflict with the Sunni majority, which is why they tend to support secularism.