It often takes a big man (or woman) to apologize, even if he or she is clearly in the wrong. People are simply not inclined to admit they have erred. If someone is not in the wrong, but apologizes only to mend a broken relationship, this plainly demonstrates maturity. Last semester, I wrote an opinion piece arguing Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a baby. While I won’t admit that I was wrong to say that—for I am never really wrong—I would like to assert the fact that he is certainly acting like a mature adult on the world stage at the moment.
Two summers ago, a flotilla from Turkey was on its way to the Gaza Strip, ostensibly to provide humanitarian aid to Gazans, but in the process it illegally broke the Gaza blockade which ensures advanced weaponry isn’t thrust into the hands of Hamas, the totalitarian terrorist group that reigns over Gaza. Israel, which had offered the supposed human rights activists access to Gaza via land, boarded the flotilla when the recalcitrant “activists” would not let the Israeli Defense Force inspect the ships for caches of weapons. As The New York Times reported at the time of the incident, “at least some of the activists on the lead ship, the Mavi Marmara, were seeking a confrontation—and got one.”
Once aboard the ship, the IDF soldiers were furiously met with water hoses and objects fired at them. When the IDF responded by shooting paintballs at those who were antagonizing them, they were beaten with metal rods and thrust off the ships. Bloodied, beaten and afraid, the IDF requested permission to use live fire in order to protect themselves. Unfortunately, nine lives were lost in the incident.
Turkey was looking for a fight.
After two years of brutality, the Syrian Civil War is showing no signs of slowing down. If anything, it is still reaching new heights. As Syrian President Bashar al-Assad continues to prove his penchant for mass slaughter—over 80,000 Syrians have been massacred to date—many neighboring countries have seen spillover from shells leaving Syrian territory.
Israel and Turkey are two such neighbors, and both would be smart to renew friendly relations to best defend themselves on this issue.
In order to best ensure no innocent lives of non-Syrian civilians are lost, Prime Minister Netanyahu has politely knocked on Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s door to cordially extend an olive branch to him. Last week, Netanyahu officially apologized to Erdogan for all lives lost during the flotilla fiasco and offered to pay for all damages Turkey incurred. While certainly a gambit, this prudent apology from Netanyahu comes only weeks after Erdogan declared the entire thesis of Netanyahu’s country inherently racist, likening the idea of Jews living in a land of their own to the unthinkable and indelible horrors of Nazi Germany.
While this capitulation by Netanyahu is certainly a demonstration of his developing maturity as a world leader, it is only a brief respite from the tensions between Israel and Turkey that have grown increasingly unsympathetic in recent years.
Once a bastion of hope for the Islamic world, Turkey now seems to be retreating from its position as a moderate and progressive leader. With near-daily aspersions cast upon Israel, civil rights records not on or near par with other Western-minded countries and recent statements from Erdogan like “gay people are contrary to Islam,” Turkey needs to reroute its current trajectory and accept the fact that if it wants to be seen as the nexus between Islamic policies and Western ideals, it needs to start acting like the moderate country it claims to be. This is the best way, and in fact the only way, to better its relationship with Europe, the West and Israel, as well as to ensure its citizens’ safety amid the anarchy and chaos otherwise known as Syria.
Zach is a senior majoring in philosophy and communications. Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
