OPINION - Abbas comes to Ankara and pledges to go to Gaza

By Dr. Sami A. Al-Arian

- The author is a public affairs professor and director of the Center for Islam and Global Affairs at Sabahattin Zaim University in Istanbul.

ISTANBUL (AA) — On Aug. 15, Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) chairman and Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the Turkish parliament at the invitation of Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

- Referential invitation: Mahmoud Abbas on the floor of the Turkish parliament

The scene in Ankara contrasted with another spectacle that took place three weeks earlier in Washington when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed [1] the United States Congress.

The indicted [2] Israeli war criminal, who has failed to achieve his military objectives [3] in Gaza, was received in Washington with much fanfare as he pushed for war against Iran and cynically justified prolonging his genocidal Gaza campaign against the Palestinians. Netanyahu's performance was pathetic and full of flagrant lies [4] and hubris.

Almost immediately after the congressional disgraceful appearance, the Turkish President slammed [5] Netanyahu's speech and criticized the ongoing assault on civilians and the unending destruction of Gaza.

Subsequently, Türkiye extended an invitation to Abbas to address its parliament and counter Netanyahu's deceptive narrative, but Abbas was slow to accept it, prompting Erdogan's pointed criticism.

In a stern tone, the Turkish President said, "President Abbas, who did not come despite our invitation, must apologize first. We invited him, but he didn't come. We are waiting to see if he will come." He added, "It does not matter if he comes or not, we raise the voice of our Palestinian brothers and sisters at every opportunity."

For the last 10 months of Israel's campaign of genocide and extermination against the Palestinians, Abbas has been tragically absent and politically irrelevant. During this period, he even continued his security coordination efforts with the Israeli occupation forces in the West Bank. A month ago, he even appallingly blamed [6] the resistance for the Israeli onslaught in Gaza in order to curry favor with the US.

When 14 Palestinian factions met recently in Beijing and signed another declaration of Palestinian unity, it was left to Abbas to implement the agreement. But under his leadership, it was another missed [7] opportunity, as 23 other attempts since 2007 had also failed to reach Palestinian reconciliation. But, given the insurmountable differences in political strategy and approach within the Palestinian parties—let alone the continuing engagement between the PA security forces and the occupation — such attempts had failed miserably.

-What did Abbas say on the floor of parliament?

Nevertheless, Abbas's 45-minute address [8] in Ankara was uncharacteristically conciliatory towards Hamas and the resistance. It was not lost on him that his Turkish hosts have been supportive [9] of the resistance movement and its leadership, particularly in light of the Israeli assassination [10] of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran two weeks earlier.

In the speech, he praised Haniyeh as several members of parliament raised [11] the photos of Hamas leaders in a defiant display of their support for the Palestinian resistance. Remarkably, his speech was unusually laced with Islamic and religious references, most likely in reverence to his religious Turkish host.

Aware of the frustration [12] of Turkish politicians towards the West and the US in particular, because of their complicity in the Gaza slaughter, as well as the overwhelming sympathy and support of the Turkish people [13] for the Palestinian cause, the speech was noteworthy in harshly condemning the Israeli genocide and the hypocrisy and complicity of the US.

He called America "the Plague" and the main party responsible for prolonging Palestinian suffering. Members of parliament, along with the Turkish President and senior members of the government, interrupted the speech with 32 applause, including several standing ovations - not dissimilar to the US Congress which supported Netanyahu's war of aggression despite his incessant lies with 79 applause.

Abbas lauded Türkiye's continuing and growing assistance [14] to Gaza, which has been providing the most aid of any international provider to Gaza since last October. He praised Türkiye's move to join [15] South Africa's case in the ICJ case against the Israeli genocide in Gaza. He also hailed the country's decision to impose [16] a total trade ban against the Zionist regime.

Abbas called for Palestinian unity. If sincere, he needs to implement the recent Beijing agreement among the Palestinian factions, all within his capacity.

But perhaps the most important part of the speech was Abbas's announcement that he would go to Gaza amidst the genocidal war. He called on other world leaders to join. This could either be a defining moment in the war or a ploy to regain lost legitimacy. Whether such a profound initiative is carried out remains to be seen.

While Türkiye continues its steadfast backing [17] for the Palestinian cause, Abbas's visit may have been a small gesture towards demonstrating such strong support. But the question remains on how such support could translate into a meaningful relief towards ending the Gaza genocide. Only time will tell whether the active Turkish diplomacy [18] and engagement would make a real difference.

[1] https://www.middleeasteye.net/big-story/netanyahu-washington-visit-paved-way-regional-war

[2] https://www.icc-cpi.int/news/statement-icc-prosecutor-karim-aa-khan-kc-applications-arrest-warrants-situation-state

[3] https://www.middleeasteye.net/big-story/gaza-israel-7-october-destroyed-myth-military-invincibility

[4] https://www.middleeasteye.net/big-story/netanyahu-washington-visit-paved-way-regional-war

[5] https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/diplomacy/turkiye-calls-on-abbas-to-apologize-for-parliament-snub

[6] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/palestinian-president-blames-hamas-continuing-war-gaza-2024-07-13/

[7] https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/can-new-hamas-chief-yahya-sinwar-achieve-palestinian-reconciliation

[8] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kN7cQ-BnFrc

[9] https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/turkish-president-erdogan-lauds-hamas-peace-efforts-condemns-israeli-army-attacks-on-rafah/3217508

[10] https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/turkish-president-erdogan-condemns-assassination-of-hamas-leader-ismail-haniyeh/3290775

[11] https://x.com/x/migrate

[12] https://www.anews.com.tr/world/2024/04/24/erdogan-criticizes-western-stance-in-gaza-war-during-steinmeier-visit

[13] https://www.insightturkey.com/articles/public-opinion-and-reaction-to-israels-war-on-gaza-after-october-7-in-turkiye

[14] https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/turkiye-continues-delivering-most-humanitarian-aid-to-gaza/3214839

[15] https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/turkiye-set-to-intervene-in-icj-genocide-case-against-israel-on-wednesday/3297594

[16] https://sanctionsnews.bakermckenzie.com/turkiye-imposes-a-total-export-and-import-ban-against-israel/

[17] https://tccb.gov.tr/en/news/542/153216/-turkiye-stands-with-palestine-during-these-difficult-days-of-fight-for-survival-

[18] https://www.politico.eu/article/israel-turkey-trade-blows-row-nato-complicity-gaza-israel-war/

*Opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Anadolu.