In principle, you are right that a peaceful democratic Arab world could make for a cooperative regional atmosphere. But the "sea of hatred" atmosphere in the Middle East against Jews has been around for greater than 60 years (in fact before the creation of Israel). The hatred has been fanned by the secular Arab dictators (including ones which have signed peace agreements with Israel) and by the Islamists in the mosques. Therefore, it is unlikely that true cooperation and harmonious peace will break out tomorrow. Finally, why is it that Gul's opinion is couched in an "or else" statement? And why are editorials written towards Israel which entered negotiations with the Palestinians several times and made several offers to end the conflict including in 2000 and 2008? What if an Israeli or a Jew wrote an editorial saying "Palestinians better come to the negotiating table and take what is offered or else Israel annexes what it wants of the West Bank and leaves the rest to form a confederation with Jordan?" Wouldn't that be seen as arrogant?

By the same reasoning, how come Turkey did not point out our "wrongdoings" before? Such hypocricy!!!! Turkey should mind its own business, atone for its MANY atrocities instead of attacking tiny Israel (your words!) together with the other barbarians. Pick on someone your size and show us how brave (i.e. cowards) your really are...!

Your country has the most journalists imprisoned in the entire world. Far surpassing those democratic bastions like China and North Korea. As for apartheid, care to name one single apartheid type law we have? Go ahead, please to so. Now would you care to comment on the apartheid laws of our neighbors, including say Turkey? The comparison is most enlightening.

First of all your suggestion that any Arab state is capable of "democratization" is simply ludicrous. They have no history of it, no knowledge of it, no experience of it and -- most importantly -- no desire for it. Equally ludicrous is your suggestion that Israel is tormenting ersatz "Palestinians." The "Palestine" Authority has been in existence for nearly two decades, and in that entire time not a single ersatz "Palestinian" from anywhere in the world, including Israel, has gone to live in areas administered by the Authority. Not a single one. It doesn't take much thought to figure out why. However, if the ersatz "Palestinians" feel "tormented" in Israel, they are more than welcome to leave. Of course, the Christians would have to stay because they will slaughtered in a Moslem-dominated country, just as has happened in Lebanon and Egypt, but that did not figure in your observations, did it?

You should not be "hurt". You are lecturing us about the so called "Palestinian". Before lecturing us please clean the house. Admit all the wrongdoing from Turkey THAT IS NOT THE EU BUT THE ARMENIANS THE PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE KILLED ARE. How deep hurts is you "leaders"? As soon aas your leader keep lying about us we will bring all the dirty laundry here?

And somehow this Israel's fault? If only Israel made peace with the Palestinians, i.e. gave in to all their demands, Assad and Quadafi would be nicer guys. Is anybody supposed to believe this? He also has a new definition of apartheid: the Muslim countries isolate Israel because it is a Jewish state and that makes Israel an apartheid country.

If the New York Times ever published anything that was not hostile to Israel.

Mr. güll sees israel as apartheid state? with several arab parties and even a arab judge who sent the former president katzev into jail. i am sure turkey and its human treatment of kurds qualify Mr. güll to name another state a apartheid state.:) guys that would be great comedy when it wouldnt be so serious. the turkish regime excludes kurdish parties from the election and calls a land in which arabs have much more rights then kurds in turkey as apartheid state? give me a break Mr. Güll.

Educate yourself and read history very well, not ottoman propaganda... I guess what you turks need is Lepanto II... Perhaps you'll learn some humility.

Turkey wants to become a neutral impartial go between in negotiations? Turkey wants to become the Arab champion and saviour of the Palestinian peoples Or does Turkey simply want to increase its sphere of influence in the Arab World with its Hat in both the Iran and Arab camp? Ha Ha Ha Ha! Yet another comedian who just doesnt get it with the Arab World and will end up getting tied up in knots

Don't 'sell the skin before the bear is shot! Turkish mediators....the Turks are dreaming of a return to the Turkish Empire. But for now they are just Turks, don't belong to ME, don't belong to EU. Nobody realy want's them, they are no salt & no sugar, just Turks with a very bad past and a lot of blood on their hands.

Nothwithstanding a pletoria of Delusional Zionists with Sociopathic tendencies tiny Israel is increasingly cornered and is soon to be completely isolated in the ME! The 'Aparteid Island' anology is appropriate for the Racist Zionist Entity!

Apparentlt delusional Zionists of Israel are woefully unaware as to how the rest of the World views Zionist Israel as a reviled Racist Apartheid State forever torturing its Palestinian subjects! WAKE UP?

Delusional Zionist nation seemingly in a suicidal tail spin with HALF the population of Istanbul is too insignificant to be bothered by ... SHAPE UP or SHIP OUT to where you came from!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA APARTHEID ISLAND MY ASS!

Actually, nothing has changed. We know exactly how Jews have been viewed in the world for several millennia -- culminating in the Holocaust. All that happened is that the usual flotsam and jetsam of anti-Semites have narrowed their focus to -- what else -- the Jewish State. So nothing's really changed. Have you any idea what the world thinks of the Armenian genocide? How about Turkey's illegal invasion of Cyprus? Let's not forget the brutal persecution of the Kurds. You live in a glass house. You should not throw stones.

I suggest all of you read the book Guns Germs and Steel and for you to read the opinions of George Friedman. If you do you will learn that a countries power comes from its land. That is why the Turks have been around for almost 1000 years (with a home land) .The Levant is horrible land. As Friedman states, it's easy to invade and hard to defend. Israel is aligned with America and that is were its power comes from but it has very limited capacity itself. So all of you need to wake up and get a dose of reality. There is no Allah. There is no Yaheh. No one is going to save you other then yourselves. I for one hand will always feel safe in the fortress that is Anatolia. To bad you guys will NEVER feel safe.

Not what you read in the controlled Turkish newspapers,anyway;and you shouldn't be fooled by hate-mongering Turkish TV,either. THREE CHEERS FOR ISRAEL!!!

Leave Asia Minor to its native citizens, Greeks, Kurds, Armenians, Slavs and Jews Occupied Constantinople, Greek Anatolia must be liberated from your invading hordes. A modern Crusade is a must to repel you from the gates of civilized Europe. Turkish hypocrites invade, conquer, plunder, convert by force, exile, commit genocide and see fit to lecture others. Get out of Cyprus as a first step of good will gesture toward your reformation if you are capable of any.

Please read my comment above. I dont think Turks like in a "glass house" We live in a house of stone and steel. And this is why we'll say what we wish. Israel lives in a paper house and the only reason it isn't being burned down is because America is standing guard. Is this a arrangement that will last forever? Ask yourself this.

last comment was supposed to be reply to 78 not 74. my bad

According to mr Gul "We are therefore ready to use our full capacity to facilitate constructive negotiations " (between Israel and Palestinians.). What am I missing here ? I was thinking that a negotiator ought to be at least impartial or neutral, concerning the particular conflict. Is there any serious person today who believes that current turkish foreign policy is neutral towards Israel? Give us a break. Mr Gul must be nominated candidate for the Pulitzer Prize in hypocricy for this statement..

to whoum it may concern:please do not publish the talkbacks offending a whole nation like : look at these turks etc. it is like after katsav affair the turks could write in their talkbacs : of course all the jews are rapists. i didnt see such a talkbackin turkish newspapers..being a turkish jew i know them very well. 50 % of them are against erdogan .friends of mine are reading your talkbacks and feel offended by these cheap comments we have to make friends and not new enemies. remember 10 years ago turkey was our strategic ally of course this nightmare will pass and we will have a new honeymoon with turkey it is my wtsh and my turkish freinds respectfully yours

Be4 u talk about democrazy in other countries show democrazy in Turkey. The journalist that were jailed talks another language .

You forgot to mention that Israel is a nuclear power. And its economy has been growing in leaps and bounds. Just look at what Israel has accomplished since its rebirth .... contrast it to Turkey, whose economy is in desperate straits, and ... er .... how long has Turkey been around? With nothing to show for it except ... well .... nothing. Suck on that for a while.

Well, perhaps you should encourage your friends in Turkey (the 50% that do not support Erdogan) to do something about it in the next elections.

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