Why is it that Turkey's prime minister is more critical of Israeli and American crimes than the leaders of Arab states, asks Nader Fergany* There is something peculiar about Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish prime minister. His country is a NATO member. It is trying to join the EU. We often accuse it of distancing itself from Islam and the Arabs and currying favour with the West. And it has strong and well-publicised ties, military and political, with Israel. Yet over the past few days, Recep has voiced strong-worded criticism -- unreported in our official media -- of Israel's barbaric acts in Palestine and the current US administration's attempt to pose one model for the Greater Middle East, even if that model is Turkey. One would imagine that Recep could have found it flattering for his country to be seen as a model of reform. What if the current US administration were to choose Egypt as a model? There would have been no end to the elation of our venerable official media. Recep's criticism could definitely harm Turkish interests, particularly that the Turkish prime minister is attending the G-8 summit and will host a NATO conference afterward. The Greater Middle East is high on the agenda of both gatherings, and Israel will be present in the corridors, if not in the main hall. Arab officials are not likely to follow Erdogan's example, especially given the might of its allies. Fear has paralysed the tongues of Arab leaders, immobilised the pens of their writers. We would have hoped for the Arab summit to make a stand, one surpassing Recep's. We would have hoped for action translating rhetoric into political reality. The summit didn't match the aspirations of the Arab people, and yet it was hailed as a summit of "destiny." Now it seems that even when "destiny" beckons, Recep is ahead of us. Has Recep gone mad? Does he see himself as an Arab ultra-nationalist? Is there Arab blood in his veins? Erdogan, we all know, represents an Islamic party. But this is not the whole story. Our leaders are Muslims. They even boast of being guardians of Islam's sacred sites -- although Israel now holds one of the two holiest places in Islam. Israel's assaults and the US-UK occupation of Iraq are so barbaric than any ordinary human being must feel enraged. But tell that to Arab leaders. The summit of "destiny" has failed to speak on behalf of the human conscience. But Erdogan did, as did many -- citizens and NGOs -- from the enemy camp. The repression of freedom in Arab countries prevents ordinary Arabs from expressing their sentiments, while Arab authorities vie to appease the US administration and its goons in Israel. One Arab government signed an economic agreement with Israel while the blood was still wet in Rafah. Another, across the Philadephi route, is facilitating Sharon's plan for unilateral withdrawal from Gaza, a plan that aims to undermine the legitimate Arab rights in Palestine and sidestep the roadmap -- the latter having led to nowhere but murder. The Arabs are making offers of full peaceful co-existence with Israel even before the latter makes any credible commitment to the legitimate rights of Palestinians. The contrast between Erdogan's stand and that of Arab leaders may seem puzzling, but is not. Erdogan was democratically elected and, therefore, accountable to the nation that put him into office. No nation that lives in freedom and under good governance would brook injustice, even towards others. Nor can leaders elected in free and fair elections afford to ignore the feelings of their people. Is there a lesson here? * The writer is the director of Almishkat Research Centre, and the lead author of the Arab Human Development Report.
