So Blinken Is Coming... If He Does, Is There Anything He'll See?!

After the war that began on October 7, lightning seemed to strike the minds of the government and its media, and they began to talk about a "Greater Israel" project. Iraq and Syria were allegedly occupied within the scope of this project. If precautions are not taken, Turkey is next.

Let us assume that, given their history, they have known about the "Greater Israel" project for a long time. Then one would ask them, "Where have you been until now? Where did you stand while Iraq and Syria were being occupied? Did a single person among you object to the 'normalization' process with Israel?"

If they did not believe that such a project could be realized, or if they were completely unaware of it, then we are facing a serious issue of "competence."

"THE DISCOVERY OF THE GREATER ISRAEL PROJECT"

Let us recount who has said what about this project in recent days.

First, former Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) Mustafa Şentop stated that a "Greater Israel" target plan has been implemented in the region for 100 years and spoke as follows:

"What we look at as the Greater Israel target is the country's borders from the Nile to the Euphrates. Some of Turkey's territory is also within these Greater Israel borders. Therefore, we are perhaps seeing the 1st or 2nd steps of this grand project now...

One of the subsequent steps of this project involves an attack that also concerns our own national territory. In that respect, the reactions shown in Turkey today against what is happening are not limited to a reaction for Gaza or Palestine; it means standing against a great aggression and tyranny that also targets Turkey's territorial integrity in the future, and not in the very distant future... At this point, we must put forward an approach that sees Turkey's interests above all political debate."

Then, Erdoğan explained the following at the Palestine rally in Istanbul:

"Did Sultan Abdulhamid not deal with those places quite a bit? Scrape the bottom of the concepts voiced by Israeli officials at the highest level, and a map of betrayal that also covers our country's lands will emerge from all of them."

Finally, the leader of the MHP, a partner in the People's Alliance (Cumhur İttifakı), Devlet Bahçeli, said, "The Turkish homeland is also a target of the promised lands. In this context, the security of Palestine is the security of Turkey."

In summary; the matter is this serious and vital for our country.

So, what are our leaders doing while shouting that Israel is a threat to our survival?

As we have pointed out before; while they are embracing HAMAS on one hand, they are chasing "mediation/guarantorship" on the other... They do not hear the voices rising from all over the country saying "Close Incirlik/Kürecik," yet they talk about sending the Turkish Armed Forces (Mehmetçik) to Gaza... While even the members of parliament in Iraq, which is occupied by the US, are collecting signatures to discuss the closure of the US Embassy in Baghdad and the expulsion of its personnel in parliament, closing the Israeli and US Embassies in Ankara does not even cross Ankara's mind.

ERBAŞ AND BİLAL ERDOĞAN'S WEAPON

The latest "terrific" sanction idea came from the President of Religious Affairs, Ali Erbaş. While Erbaş, who held a consultation meeting with 54 non-governmental organizations, announced that firms supporting Zionism should be boycotted, Erdoğan's son, Bilal Erdoğan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ilm Yayma Foundation, supported this proposal and said, "I think the boycott is definitely powerful... One must work well when determining the brands to be boycotted. One should prioritize starting with brands that openly support Israel, then continue with those that do not openly condemn Israel, and then move on to those that do not support Palestine... We are not in need of brands that support Israel in Turkey."

While our people are busy thinking, it turns out that after Erdoğan's statement of support for HAMAS, Israel's largest supermarket chains have stopped imports from Turkey, isn't that something?

Another important piece of news: While Erdoğan, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, and other officials blame Israel and the US every single day, it has emerged that US bombers have arrived at Incirlik Air Base for joint training with Turkey.

Erdoğan had asked what US ships were doing in the Eastern Mediterranean; so let us ask, "What are US bombers doing at Incirlik? What is the purpose and target of this training?"

THE HEART-POUNDING POSSIBILITY OF A VISIT

They are supposedly clashing with the US; but for two days, hearts have been fluttering in Ankara. Why? Because it is said that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will come to Turkey on Sunday. Even though the US State Department spokesperson said, "I cannot confirm any visits other than Israel and Jordan at this time," our media is in a state of excitement, saying, "He has arrived, he is coming."

How quickly they forgot; that Blinken, who toured the region twice, bypassed Turkey... That Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan explained this by saying, "The date he wanted to come did not fit my schedule." But that AKP Spokesperson Ömer Çelik said the following:

"The US Secretary of State not stopping by Turkey does not cause the Republic of Turkey to lose anything. It shows how much weakness those who do this are in."

Anyway; if Blinken does come, let us look at why he would come.

The atmosphere being created is that Ankara's "guarantorship" proposal is being taken seriously. Leaving aside whether it is possible for our guarantorship to be accepted in the face of Erdoğan's open ownership of HAMAS; let us look at the content of the phone call between Blinken and Fidan a few days ago. It was announced that the call addressed "the need to prevent the spread of the Israel-Palestine conflict, ensure the release of hostages, and contact regional leaders to mobilize humanitarian aid." And the following was also noted:

"Furthermore, the progress made regarding Sweden's accession to NATO was discussed."

Let us recall; while it is being said that the US is behind Israel's massacres, and while one of Turkey's biggest trump cards against the US-Israel is Sweden's membership, Erdoğan suddenly signed the accession protocol and sent it to the TBMM.

What happened before that? NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg and Erdoğan spoke on the phone. While the Directorate of Communications announced that the Israel-Palestine issue was discussed, Stoltenberg announced that they also discussed Sweden's NATO membership.

After Erdoğan sent the protocol, both Stoltenberg and the US expressed their satisfaction. Stoltenberg also said he was "looking forward to a swift vote for approval."

Following these developments, while TBMM Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş announced that he would send the protocol to the Foreign Affairs Committee, he said, "I hope it will come to the General Assembly as soon as possible, and the deputies will make their decision."

In short; although the pro-government Yeni Şafak newspaper wrote three days ago that there are 70 agreements before the TBMM Foreign Affairs Committee, that these would be prioritized, and that the Sweden protocol would come to the General Assembly before or after the local elections;

It appears that, if it happens, Blinken's visit will be an Israel-Palestine-themed push to accelerate the approval of Sweden's NATO membership!..

On this issue, can a "If he has a future, he also has a past/consequence" attitude be displayed by both the government and the opposition?

Erdoğan had reacted to the CHP not supporting the Iraq-Syria motion due to the "foreign soldier" expression by saying, "History will not forgive those who give life to terrorists by saying 'no' to the motion."

Well then; will history forgive saying "yes" to Sweden's accession to NATO while Gaza is being burned, and more importantly, while the "Greater Israel" project targeting Turkey has taken flesh and bone?!