TFLE01: TURKEY: ANGRY CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 004474 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR TASK FORCE ONE E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/03/2021 TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER TU IS LE SUBJECT: TFLE01: TURKEY: ANGRY CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE CEASE-FIRE REF: A. ANKARA 4373 ¶B. ANKARA 4331 ¶C. ANKARA 4236 Classified By: CDA Nancy McEldowney for Reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (C) Summary: The mood in Turkey regarding events in Lebanon - particularly the failure to achieve an early, UN-brokered ceasefire - has turned angry. Growing protests on the streets have been matched by official statements in Kuala Lumpur (PM Erdogan at the OIC ministerial) and Washington (FM Gul in a Washington Post editorial): the carnage must stop; Israel's disproportionate use of force is unacceptable; the U.S. has lost the high ground; and many here have lost faith in the ability of international organizations to deal with such crises. Both Gul and Erdogan warn of a spike in radicalism and extremism as a result. None of the debate here acknowledges the role of Hizbullah or Iran, or considers the broader complications of the conflict. It has been reduced to a one-dimensional tirade against Israel and, by association, the United States. End Summary. ¶2. (U) FM and Deputy PM Abdullah Gul, in an August 3 op-ed piece in the "Washington Post" entitled, "An Appeal for Leadership - Why Hasn't the World's Lone Superpower Stopped This Tragedy?" takes the U.S. to task. Gul voices what many in the governing Justice and Development Party (AKP) have told us this past week. Events in the Middle East raise questions about the United States' "legacy of leadership for justice and freedom." Hopes for the democratic transformation of the Middle East are being "shattered", creating a deep sense of indignation "when radicals and fanatics are looking for pretexts to justify their actions and to widen their influence." It is necessary to maintain the moral high ground and address the core issues that have been festering in the Middle East; this is only possible through "genuine leadership which must adhere to the values that it asks of others in order to be effective." ¶3. (U) PM Erdogan, speaking at the same time from the opposite end of the world - at the extraordinary OIC meeting in Kuala Lumpur - stated, "This war can in no way be qualified as legitimate." It "sows the seeds of abhorrence, leading to radicalism. ...a new and horrible global fire awaits us." The UN, Erdogan said, should deal with this, but was weakened because of differences of opinions among its members. ¶4. (U) MFA spokesman Namik Tan reiterated in his August 2 press conference Turkey's expectation of an immediate cease-fire. Responding to a question, he said, "Great pain is experienced there every day. Such pain leaves marks on our hearts and minds. The pain suffered only makes enmity stronger. We are hoping for an immediate cease-fire so that we can begin further contributions." ¶5. (SBU) The government/AKP line is united and passionate. A number of high-level AKP contacs have told us over the past several days that the U.S. is damaging the bilateral ties that our two governments have worked hard to restore, driving Turkish public opinion to even more anti-American extremes and torpedoing hopes of continued cooperation on the Broader Middle East North African initiative (BMENA). It is also, they told us, further damaging Turks' faith in the ability of international organizations - be it the UN, the EU or the OIC - to act effectively in a crisis. ¶6. (C) Normally mild-mannered AKP vice-chairman Dengir Firat told us angrily on August 2 that Turkey condemns all forms of terrorism, but "you cannot be against an entire nation (Lebanon) to eliminate terrorists." The public does not view this conflict as between Israel and Palestine or between ANKARA 00004474 002 OF 003 Israel and Hamas or Hizbullah - it blames the U.S. for blocking UN action, for telling Israel that it is right and should continue to kill civilians. PM Erdogan, Firat concluded, who willingly assumed the duty as co-chair of BMENA because he believed the civilizations should come together, "is losing hope." ¶7. (C) The angry public mood is reflected in MPs' constituencies as well. AKP whip Eyup Fatsa, from a Black Sea hazelnut producing area currently in turmoil over low commodity prices, told us that despite these problems, every second question he gets is on the Middle East. Firat, Fatsa and PM adviser Nabi Avci, all reconciled to a long negotiation phase leading up to a cease-fire, said the public was convinced that the U.S. was responding to Israeli timing. While a cease-fire would be meaningful for governments, Fatsa said that for the public it is already too late. ¶8. (SBU) At the same time, the GOT continues to mull the prospect of Turkish participation in a peacekeeping or stabilization force. Speaking at the OIC ministerial in Malaysia - after meetings with the Pakistani PM and Iranian president - PM Erdogan stated, "What kind of a contribution we could make to the stability force in Lebanon, under what conditions we could participate, on these issues our views are converging. We may participate in the stability force on the condition that a ceasefire is declared and the sides agree to it." ¶9. (U) The Turkish parliament's Human Rights Committee is holding an extraordinary session August 3 to discuss the "inhuman atrocities in the Middle East and Lebanon." After 26 members resigned from the Turkish-Israel Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group on August 1, media report that all opposition Republic People's party (CHP) members of the 263-member strong group also resigned their membership August 2 in protest. Membership now stands at ¶123. CHP Deputy Group Chairman Haluk Koc said Israel implements "state terrorism" and uses disproportionate force. AKP Adana MP Vahit Kirisci said before considering dissolving the group altogether, the group would call for Israel to stop its attacks and work for peace. Mainstream "Milliyet" newspaper quoted Turkish-Palestine Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group Chairman Huseyin Tanriverdi as calling the Qana bombing similar to the practices of Hitler; "Israel blows winds of terror in the Middle East with the support of the UN, U.S. and western countries." ¶10. (C/NF) The tensions affect other elements of Turkish society as well. Contacts in the Jewish community in Istanbul expressed concern about Turkish reaction and said they plan to lower their (already low) profile. One Jewish physician recently had patients request their files to take their business elsewhere. Another prominent businessman noted increased remarks to him about his Jewish heritage among his high-society friends. Community members are considering reaching out to mainstream media to try to tone down inflammatory rhetoric. In light of prior attacks on synagogues in 1986, 1992 and 2003, security remains the top concern. ¶11. (C) Comment: AKP reactions may be coordinated, but they are raw and real. AKP has two major domestic audiences: constituencies and party members. The television pictures sear their constituencies and the GOT has had no good answers aside from "the UN is working on it." Now AKPers can respond that their top government officials have made their views known around the world. Within AKP, many have never harbored particularly warm feelings toward Israel; Erdogan's and Gul's statements - and the venues in which they were expressed - underscore to the party faithful that their message, too, is ANKARA 00004474 003 OF 003 being heard. End comment. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ MCELDOWNEY