The conference "Turkey's Middle East Policy and Israel Problem" organized by Kastamonu University Faculty of Theology was held on December 21, 2023 in Sezai Karakoç Hall of the Central Library of our University.
Kastamonu Governor Meftun Dallı, Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hamdi Topal, Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. Mehmet Atalan, Prof. Dr. Kasım Yenigün, Prof. Dr. Ömer Küçük, Ankara Medipol University Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Kudret Bülbül, academic and administrative staff and many students attended the conference.
Ankara Medipol University Faculty of Political Sciences, Department of Political Science and International Relations Lecturer Prof. Dr. Kudret Bülbül's conference on Turkey's Middle East Policy and the Israeli Problem started with the recitation of the Holy Quran.
After the recitation, a video prepared by Kastamonu University Press and Publication Consultancy and describing the drama in Gaza was shown.
"Turkey is a mediator"
Speaking at the program, Prof. Dr. Kudret Bülbül pointed out that Turkey's cultural and civilizational borders are far beyond its political borders and stated that Turkey is a country where people seek help and take refuge. Pointing out that Turkey is a country that understands and applies the concept of peace at home and peace in the world in a very correct way, Prof. Dr. Bülbül stated that Turkey is a mediator in both the Israeli-Palestinian war and the problems in different geographies.
Pointing out that the concept called antisemitism in European societies is a disease seen in Western societies, Prof. Dr. Bülbül stated that Jew hatred, anti-Semitism is essentially a disease of the West, a hatred of the West, and that Jews are one of the unwanted communities in the West.
Prof. Dr. Bülbül explained how the Israeli problem was born in the historical context in the program as follows: "The Israeli problem is a problem created by British imperialism in the 19th century by expelling the Jews, who were seen as a problem in Europe for many centuries, to Islamic lands in order to both get rid of a problem within themselves and to control the Middle East oil and the Ottoman Empire by fragmenting the Ottoman lands. In this way, British imperialism exported the Jews, who had historically always been humiliated and seen as a problem in Europe, to Islamic lands, and obtained a means of intervention through which it could keep Middle Eastern countries and oil under control. Likewise, while historically Muslims were not in conflict with Jews, but rather with Christians, with this development, it has achieved a position where Muslims are more in conflict with Jews, while they themselves are more on the outside. The statements made by the UK and the USA, which replaced it in global imperialism, even in the face of Israel's inhuman atrocities and genocide, the military equipment they have sent and the visits of the leaders of these two countries to Israel once again reveal how much they stand by Israel, which they gave birth to and keep alive today."
"Israel is an occupying neighbor"
Prof. Dr. Bülbül said that Israel does not have an official framework for where its borders begin and end, and underlined that Israel envisions a political border that will eventually include the southeast of Turkey. Comparing Israel to an occupying neighbor trying to take over its neighbor's house, Prof. Dr. Bülbül pointed out that it is time to turn the reactions rising like an avalanche all over the world against the inhumane practices implemented by Israel into a more effective movement. Prof. Dr. Bülbül mentioned that these increasing reactions at the global level can be transformed into an international coalition of conscience/action against Zionism/genocide and that Muslim countries such as Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, Pakistan and Malaysia can pioneer this activity. Reminding that societies take a clearer stance than states, Prof. Dr. Bülbül said that in Turkey, on the contrary, the state reacts much more harshly than the society. Prof. Dr. Bülbül underlined that there is no other country leader who has made a statement as harsh as the President of Turkey regarding the inhumane practices implemented by Israel.
"Israel's name will be associated with the Holocaust"
Prof. Dr. Bülbül mentioned that Israel's name will be remembered with Genocide due to the persecution committed by Israel in Gaza, and stated that when we look at the connotation of Israel in today's world, it is associated with genocide, oppression, persecution and capturing the world. Prof. Dr. Bülbül stated that no one wants to be associated with Israel and be a citizen of Israel except those who persecute people in Palestine, and reminded the words of the Minister of Trade and said that no public institution does business with Israel, only the private sector does business, but they have reduced their exports to Israel by 50%.
"It is necessary to separate Israel from Judaism"
Prof. Dr. Bülbül said that the actions of the state of Israel should not be attributed to the Jewish community and concluded his speech as follows "It is necessary to separate Israel from Judaism by associating it with Zionism, or it is necessary to say Zionist Jews. It is also necessary to say that there are Jews, because if you do not say this, it is as if we were against a whole nation as a whole.
Prof. Dr. Kudret Bülbül answered the questions of the students after his speech. The program ended with the presentation of a gift to Prof. Dr. Bülbül by our Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hamdi Topal and a photo shoot in memory of the day.
In the program, a photo exhibition prepared with photographs compiled from various events in the region, which impressively reflected the death, destruction and hardships caused by Israel in Palestine and Gaza, was presented to the visitors. Our Rector emphasized that the event was an important step towards increasing sensitivity on Palestine and expressed his satisfaction with the intense interest shown by our students.
