by Betul Yuruk
ANKARA
Israeli attacks which it says are to stop Hamas rocket attacks from Gaza are paving the way for radicals to gain power, experts have told Anadolu Agency.
"The uncontrollable violence by killing innocent civilians which is applied by Israel in Gaza is causing radicals to gain power," according to Yasar Onay, a professor of political science and international relations at Halic University in Istanbul.
"The chaotic structure of the region which began with the occupation of Iraq has become deeper with the ambiguity in Syria and all these developments unfortunately created a good atmosphere to terrorists for gaining power."
Since July 7, Israel has been pounding the besieged Gaza Strip with air and naval bombardments with the stated aim of halting rocket attacks coming from the territory.
Israel has since stepped up its offensive to include ground operations, sending thousands of troops into the embattled Palestinian area.
The Palestinian death toll since last Thursday has risen to 509, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry while the latest fatalities bring to 18 the number of Israeli troops killed in action.
Another reason for radical terrorists to increase confidence is the silence of countries that defend democracy, human rights and freedom of belief in the region, says Onay.
He added that although many explanations have been put forward to establish peace in the region, nothing has happened.
Israel says it protects itself with the backing of the United States.
However, Israel's ground operations mean war, according to Onay.
"Israel will reach its targets, but in the long run, these developments will increase the popularity of radical terrorism not only in the region but also in the world," he said.
Israel also has strategic interests in the region as well, ensuring the energy security of the West, according to Onay.
"The U.S. and others are talking, but not acting. Do they want peace in the region honestly? The answer is ‘no’, because peace in the region means order and harmony. What happens if there is an order and harmony in the region? They cannot use natural sources such as oil and gas as they want," he said.
"There is no great change in U.S. policy towards Israel and Gaza. Peace talks in the region are a kind of political marketing."
'Alice in Wonderland logic'
The United States has taken its customary position of Israel’s lawyer in the current aggression against Gaza, says Rashid Khalidi, the Edward Said Professor of Arab Studies at Columbia University.
Although, according to Khalidi, this logic is gradually losing its grip on growing segments of American public opinion he struck a pessimistic tone, saying that Gaza’s suffering was likely to continue.
"American politicians have competed in making extreme statements of support for Israel and of condemnation of Hamas rocket fire...This Alice in Wonderland logic, whereby a population under occupation, besieged in what amounts to the world’s largest open-air prison, is the aggressor, and massively powerful Israel is the victim, is characteristic of American politicians and the mainstream U.S. media," he added.
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