BY TURKER ALKAN
RADIKAL- The problem of clearing the mines from our border with Syria has been neglected, its questions unanswered. These questions will come up again. What's the source of allegations that the land cleared of mines would be operated by Israel? This is a serious allegation, and we have the right to learn if it's true or not. Interestingly, in past years similar allegations were made about the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP). Some claimed that Jewish figures bought lots of land there, but this was never confirmed.
Where do these claims and fears come from? Two reasons, I believe. Firstly, large tracts of land bought by Jews played a very important role in the founding of Israel. Some people think Israel will use the same method on us. Secondly, according to the Old Testament, southeastern Anatolia is the land promised by God to the Jews. One day Israel will make initiatives to seize this land. But such claims can't be taken seriously. Israel is having trouble protecting even its current borders. It would be nonsense to think that Israel, which returned the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt for the sake of political recognition, would try to buy territory from Turkey. Furthermore, let's assume that Israel bought land in the GAP region. Then it would get ownership of the land, but of course the state would still have sovereignty there.
It's nonsense to even discuss these issues seriously. But it would also be absurd to give land along the Syrian border to Israeli companies in exchange for clearing the mines. That would be the first-ever case of a state turning over ownership of its borders to foreigners! What's more, Israel is still technically at war with Syria, and Turkey is trying to polish its relations with Syria. Putting our land along the Syrian border under foreign control is unacceptable. Furthermore, the savings from this arrangement would be very small, only about 600 million Turkish lira.
The state is planning to provide tax incentives for investments in eastern provinces to redress the imbalance between the regions - in other words, give positive discrimination. For example, could the fertile soil gained after the mines are cleared be used as a development model for the east? For this we will need creativity, courage and effort."