ANKARA (A.A) - 02.04.2002 - Reactions against Israeli attacks against Palestine are continuing across Turkey.
International Forum for Culture of Peace (IFLAC) Turkey Chairman Husamettin Olgun said Tuesday that the Israeli-Palestinian was which was a shame of humanity should end immediately.
He said that the pressure of powerful nations and the U.N. was more important than the approaches of Israel and Palestine.
''While the humanity is longing for peace, we condemn genocide, hatred and revenge. This war which is killing babies, children, pregnant women and all civilians will be a shameful page in the history of humanity in the beginning of a millennium,'' he said.
A number of protests were held against Israel in Samsun, Kayseri, and Izmir.
DEVELOPMENTS IN MIDDLE EAST DEBATED AT PARLIAMENT
Raw broke out among True Path Party (DYP), Motherland Party (ANAP) and Felicity Party (SP) deputies after Foreign Minister Ismail Cem informed Parliamentary General Assembly on recent developments in the Middle East.
Representatives of political parties having seats at the parliament were allowed to explain their views about recent developments in the Middle East.
Temel Karamollaoglu from the SP said, ''if we remain silent against murders committed by Israel, our future will also be jeopardized. Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) region was included in the land promised to the Jews. Zionists were behind the resolutions about so-called Armenian genocide. Palestinian suicide commandos defending their homes, lands and families, cannot be considered terrorist. In fact, Israel became a terrorist state. The United States has been extending support to Israel. Israel has been committing genocide against Palestinian people.''
He said that Turkey should suspend all of its agreements with Israel, and recall its ambassador in Israel.
''Anatolian Eagle military exercises to be performed in June with the participation of Israel and the United States should be cancelled immediately,'' he added.
Kamran Inan from the Motherland Party (ANAP), the Chairman of Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Commission, said, ''Turkey's benefits should be given priority on foreign policy issues. The states cannot have feelings. Dispute between Israel and Palestine will be solved through negotiations. Muslim countries did not show any reaction to torture, pressure and massacres against Turkish Cypriots. They always supported Greece within structure of the United Nations. Saudi Arabia has more investments in the Greek Cypriot side than in Turkey. Also, Arab countries remained silent against massacres in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The same countries did not react against occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia.''
''Some activists explode the bombs they strapped to their bodies and cause death of innocent people including children. Such suicide attacks should be condemned. Policy cannot be made over human blood. Two Arab countries held secret contacts with Israel and asked it not to allow foundation of an independent Palestinian state. I cannot announce names of these states. Jewish lobby prevent approval of resolutions about so-called genocide on Armenians by the U.S. Senate during the term in office of Bill Clinton,'' he said.
SP and Justice and Development Party (AK Party) deputies reacted to words of Inan. Deputy Parliament Speaker Murat Sokmenoglu intervened in the raw.
Meanwhile, Mehmet Saglam from the DYP said, ''Palestinian people have been living through a human tragedy. Earlier, President Yasser Arafat of Palestine said that he was ready to become a martyr. His second alternative is to surrender to Israeli forces. However, no one expect Arafat who has spent his 50 years in this struggle, to surrender to Israeli forces. A cease-fire should be declared immediately and negotiations should be resumed under the light of Beirut Declaration that was accepted by the European Union (EU). Israel is our strategical partner and friend, however we cannot tolerate the tragedy in Palestine.''
Bulent Arinc from the AK Party said, ''Yasser Arafat, the president of a legal state recognized by the world, may be living his last days under bombardment. Recent developments have revealed that there was not any difference between Adolf Hitler and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Turkey cannot award an Israeli company in a tender for modernization of M-60 tanks in an atmosphere where many people lost their lives in clashes. Turkey should cancel the tender as soon as possible.''
Ahmet Tan from the Democratic Left Party (DSP) said, ''clashes in the Middle East have begun to turn into ethnic cleansing. The United States has declared global war against terrorism in the wake of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. We are obliged to help Arafat. It is necessary for peace and humanity.''
Sevket Bulent Yahnici from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) said, ''Arabs' betrayals during the World War I caused today's developments in the region. The United States should take immediate action to put an end to bloodshed in the Middle East. Foreign Minister Ismail Cem should explain Turkey's reaction at international organizations such as Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the United Nations. These recent developments should not be used in our domestic policy. Tender for modernization of M-60 tanks was a necessity of an agreement reached 1.5 years ago.''
LABOUR PLATFORM GROUP VISITS PALESTINIAN EMBASSY
Labour Platform's Term Spokesman and Labour Confederation (Hak-Is) Chairman Salim Uslu has said that the continuing violence in Palestine was not any less tragic than the attacks against the Twin Towers in New York.
A group of people from the Labour Platform visited Palestinian Ambassador to Ankara Fouad Yaseen on Tuesday to show their support to the Palestinian nation.
''The world which reacts against the fascism of Hitler and Milosevic should also stop Sharon's fascism,'' and said that Israel was massacring Palestinian civilizans. He said all the morgues in hospitals were full and the dead bodies cannot be burried because of a curfew.
''Israel is carrying on a human hunt like a terrorist. The tragedy in Palestine is no lighter than the tragedy of Sept. 11 attacks,'' he said.
He said that the International Peace Keeping Force should immediately stop the killings in Palestinian territory and bring humanitarian aid to Palestinians.
Stating that Turkey has responsibilities for the Palestinian people, Uslu called on the government to start initiatives in the EU. He also said that Turkey should suspend the tank modernization project with Israel.
Yaseen said his country always regarded Turkey as a ''great friend and brother'' and that his nation was happy to have Turkey's support.
Yaseen said that Israel was trying to ''drown'' the Palestinian nation by not giving them water, electricity and food with the support of the United States.