December 15, 2025
In two weeks, the year 2025 will be behind us. The end of a year is a moment of reflection on the achievements, disappointments, and failures of the past twelve months and whether different paths could have been taken. In international relations, those who choose between “new chapters” and “the same old story” are world leaders, primarily among them the leaders of major powers. And “new chapters” are not easy to start writing.
Okumaya devam etJuly 28, 2025
Last Tuesday, July 22, Mr. Jean-Noël Barrot, French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, in response to a question about his “virulent earlier reaction to the new ground offensive in Gaza”, said that France utterly condemns it and calls for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all the hostages held by Hamas, a Hamas that must be disarmed, and the completely unimpeded entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. He criticized the Israeli Government’s militarized system of food distribution that has caused the deaths of nearly 1,000 civilians in the past few weeks.” Earlier, he had said that the operations of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation have led to a blood bath.
Okumaya devam etJune 2, 2025
In recent weeks, there have been more references to growing international criticism of the IDF’s Gaza operations and mounting pressure on Israel.
President Macron, in a speech opening a security forum in Singapore last week, said that he heard the voice in this region, as well in Africa, South America, the Gulf, about the double standard in Gaza, where a lot think that the Americans and the Europeans are giving a free pass to Israel, and this is a big risk.[i]
Okumaya devam etApril 7, 2025
On January 18, 2025, following the Israeli government’s approval of the Gaza ceasefire, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a statement. He notably declared that Israel retains the right to return to the war, if necessary, with the backing of the US. And in a broad assessment of the war against Hamas and Iran’s Axis of Resistance, he said:
“We eliminated Sinwar, Deif and Haniyeh. We eliminated Nasrallah and the entire Hezbollah leadership. We destroyed most of the weaponry of the Syrian military. We struck the Houthis in Yemen. We acted against Iran. Indeed, we struck all of these very hard, that is to say that we struck the entire Iranian axis very hard – and we are still active.
“Just as I promised you, we have changed the face of the Middle East.”
Okumaya devam etNovember 25, 2024
This is how I started a post a year ago, two months after the Hamas onslaught of October 7:
“Jews are a gifted people. They have made great contributions to science, culture, and the arts. Israel is among the top twenty countries winning the most Nobel prizes. However, the first Nobel prizes were awarded in 1901. Israel was founded in 1948. Had Israel existed in 1901, surely it would have been among the top ten if not the top five today. Unfortunately, Jewish people have experienced endless tragedies, persecution, pogroms, displacements, and annihilation attempts prompted by racism, antisemitism, and jealousy of their achievements.
Okumaya devam etAugust 19, 2024
Since the Hamas onslaught of October 7, world attention has essentially focused on two aspects of the war in Gaza. First, the ferocity of the IDF operations that have caused immense loss of civilian life and devastation, and second, the ceasefire and hostage-prisoner exchange talks.
Okumaya devam etFebruary 26, 2024
On February 17, Chancellor Scholz addressed the Munich Security Conference. Mentioning the tragic death of Alexei Navalny, he declared that to all intents and purposes, President Putin has brought the economy, education, science, and culture in Russia under his control, and anyone who actively works for freedom and democracy has to fear for their life. He said:
Okumaya devam etFebruary 21, 2024
The following are two posts from nearly three years ago. Both draw attention to the pattern of regional conflict. Where the war in Gaza might lead remains to be seen.
Okumaya devam etJanuary 29, 2024
Türkiye’s governing Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to power following the general election on November 2, 2002. This marked the end of the coalition government led by Prime Minister Ecevit, the prominent leader of Türkiye’s democratic left. The change of government came at a critical time for Türkiye-US relations because the Bush administration had already declared its intention to invade Iraq. Vice President Cheney had visited Ankara to secure the Turkish government’s “full cooperation” in the project, but Mr. Ecevit had resisted.
Okumaya devam etJanuary 22, 2024
On January 18, Prime Minister Netanyahu claimed that Israel under his leadership will not compromise on less than total victory over Hamas, and they will win. “In any arrangement in the foreseeable future — with an arrangement or without one — Israel must have security control over all the territory west of the Jordan,” Mr. Netanyahu also said at a news conference, referring to the area that would supposedly belong to an independent Palestinian state. “This clashes with the idea of sovereignty. What can you do? The prime minister needs to be capable of saying no to our friends,” he declared.
Okumaya devam et
Diplomatik Yorum - Ali Tuygan 