Dear Radical Reader,
The speech below by Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stands in bold relief to that of Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper as a speech emanating from the heart and filled with courage and conviction. Rather than prostrating himself before Zion like Canada’s groveling, pathetic, shabez goi Harper the Turkish leader has cut to the chase and pointed a fierce finger of rightful condemnation directly at the miscreant responsible for this latest international crime against humanity. Here is a world leader worth his salt.
In these days of waning political integrity it’s heartening to see at least one person in such a position lash out at this viperous state and demand that it suffer the consequences of its pathological behaviour. Were it not for the fact that the Jew Media shields the West from reading such speeches I’m certain the outcry here in Canada and the USA and elsewhere would be much more vocal than it already is.
Do pass this along to your friends and associates. The truth is finally growing legs and wings and soon it will rise above the diabolical deeds of pseudo-nations such as Israel and bring that much-awaited dream to humanity – peace. You can be a part of it by spreading the word.
Shine your Light for Love, Peace & Justice for All,
Arthur Topham
Publisher/Editor
The Radical Press
Canada’s Radical News Network
“Digging to the root of the issues since 1998”
http://www.radicalpress.com
[email protected]

Pres.Erdogan
Full Text of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Speech!
June 2nd, 2010
Translated and transcribed from Turkish
by Gazin Bilgi for www.palestinethinktank.com
and Gulagnik Translators (www.gulaknik.wordpress.com)
English editing by Mary Rizzo.
Italian translation by Diego Traversa.
(Additional grammatical editing by Arthur Topham/RadicalPress)
Today I do not only want to speak to my dear people but to all of humanity.
I want to call to the conscience and hearts and minds of the whole of humanity, I would like to share courageously my feelings.
Yesterday, in the darkest moment of the night, two bloody attacks occurred.
The first of them was the terrorist attack against our military troops at the Iskenderun Naval Base. In this malicious, vicious attack six of our soldiers died, and have become martyrs. Seven of our soldiers have been injured.
The second, at dawn in the waters of the Mediterranean Sea, the heart of humanity has taken one of her heaviest wounds in history. The aid ships, from the humanitarian heart, these flowing aid ships have been hindered by guns, by violence, and by despotism.
They, who with mercy, compassion and humaneness, loaded aid onto these ships, could not reach their place of destination; they were wreaked in carnage.
Yesterday, beginning in the morning hours, armed elements of the Israeli Army stopped humanitarian aid being brought to the Gazan people. From more than 32 countries, with 600 people inside the Free Gaza Flotilla traveling in international waters, in an absolutely illegal way did they attack, spilling the blood of innocent humans.
During this violent attack, resulting in death, casualties and persons being wounded, the humanitarian aid ships were seized and sequestered. This inhuman attack against those women, young people and religious functionaries that the ship was carrying, I do one more time strongly, severely condemn.
I have declared this in Chile. Here I do stress it one more time. This bloody massacre by Israel, brought against the ships bringing humanitarian aid to Gaza is a massacre deserving of every kind of curse and condemnation. This is openly an attack upon international law, against the heart of humanity, against world peace. I say against the heart of humanity, for, on those ships were people from all nations, all religions. People alone and defenseless who were bringing humanitarian aid to those under blockade, embargo; the people in Gaza.
The ships, before they left, openly declared to the entire world their cargo, their intention and their mission. As witness to this openly humanitarian aid from the world and our country 60 journalists also entered and traveled with the ships. In international waters; in open seas; this armed attack against 600 people and 6 ships carrying aid to oppressed people, poor people, to starved people, to people whose homes were destroyed was openly an attack against the basic philosophy of the United Nations.
The ships which set sail, from Turkey and from other countries, were completely stocked to carry out the humanitarian purpose and contained only aid material. They were, according to international traffic rules, strictly controlled. At the same time, there were no other passengers on the ships other than civilians and aid volunteers. The ships were flying white flags. Despite all those conditions the ships were subject to an armed attack.
As you know, during that time, we were on our Latin America program but due to this abhorrent terrorist attack which occurred in Hatay and Israel’s illegal attack against the aid ships, we had to cut our work short in Chile and return to our country.
From the very first moment we watched the events closely. We have taken the necessary steps, together with our friends in Turkey. Yesterday morning at 6:30, deputy Bulent Arinc, together with related ministers and administration representatives, organised an evaluation meeting in which we considered the issue in all its dimensions. Our Foreign Ministry, our intelligence units, related establishments and armed forces have been monitoring the issue very closely.
Our Minister of Foreign Affairs and our Minister of Defense, talking on the phone with Israel’s Minister of Defense, forcefully put forth our reaction and sensitivities and I, together with my ministers, evaluating the events during the entire night, have been continuously in contact with Turkey. On the other hand I have established contacts with the international community and for now this process continues. In this framework, I have put on the table everything necessary to cover all the dimensions of this situation. I urgently did the steps necessary.
The Republic of Turkey is using every possibility; every chance made available by international law and diplomacy and Turkey will keep using it. In this framework, Turkey’s ambassador to Tel Aviv has been called back. Three joint military operations which were on the agenda have been canceled. Our Minister of Foreign Affairs went to New York and the UN Security Council has been called requesting an urgent meeting and it was confirmed that there would be an urgent, extraordinary meeting.
The UN Security Council has made a statement condemning Israel. It was pointed out in the statement the need to open an investigation and to set free immediately the civilians and the injured. The matches of our youth football team have been canceled. NATO’s Council has been called for an extraordinary meeting. Furthermore, the Organization of Islamic Conference, the Arab League, the European Union and all related establishments have been contacted and international institutions have been called to duty. The Organization of Islamic Conference will hold a meeting on Monday.
Primarily, the safety and security of the convoy and our citizens in the convoy has to be ensured. Necessities to ensure the treatment of the injured are being taken care of. Israel has said: “Let us send the injured to you.” We have replied that we have the will and power to take our injured ourselves, and we have refused this offer. Two military ambulance aircraft have taken off to bring our injured back. With civil aircraft the Ministry of Health is about to arrive there. To the Israeli Ambassador, who was summoned to the Foreign Ministry, a call was made demanding the immediate return of the citizens of the Turkish Republic and setting the captured ships free.
Further, all efforts to attend to the treatment of the injured, bringing them to Turkey, have been made and in our country all measures have been taken. Israel, hindering the international community’s access to information from the first moment of the incident, now must inform world public opinion in a truthful way and must not refrain from international cooperation. Israel must understand the seriousness of the situation and must stop committing actions such as this that are wrong. Israel’s attitude at this stage is being watched by the world’s people and global public opinion and views are being formed.
Those who are affiliated with the effort are in touch and are coordinating with the countries whose citizens are in the flotilla. The ships fly the flags of Turkey, Greece and the Comore Islands; there are people from 32 countries involved. I expect those countries, too, to show the necessary reaction and sensitivity. Thus I once again express that Israel must immediately lift the inhuman embargo against Gaza. [15 seconds applause]. Israel must not hinder efforts to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches its destination.
Dear comrades, as you know we are working together with Spain to support the Alliance of Civilizations’ work. Our goal and mission is to reinforce the conviction that different religions, different civilizations and cultures can live in peace and tolerance together. It is a struggle so that instead of hatred and animosity, love will dominate.
Regrettably I must say, the incidents which occurred yesterday, in terms of humanity’s collective civilization and culture, are a black mark against this process. In terms of the history of humanity this must be recorded as a major shame. Attacking humanitarian aid ships with arms to massacre innocent people and treating civilians as terrorists, is, in terms of humanity, a great defeat; a despicably cowardly and vicious act of presumption that is reckless and dauntless. [20 seconds applause].
We know that war, as well as peace, has its laws. In war you do not attack children; in war you do not attack women and old people; in war you do not attack civilians or religious functionaries; in war you do not attack those who are hoisting the white flag; in war you do not attack health and rescue personnel. During war time even these things are not condoned and so here, in peace time, those who do these things not only violate the law but trample humanity under their feet; they abandon humanity.
Despots, gangsters, even pirates, have specific codes of conduct that they follow. Those who do not follow any morality or ethics, those who do not act with any sensitivity, to call them such names would even be a compliment to them. Israel, by attacking a ship with volunteers from 32 countries, has in fact defied the world. World peace has been deeply wounded. This brazen, irresponsible, reckless government that recognizes no law and tramples on any kind of humanitarian virtue; this attack by the Israeli government must, by all means, be punished.
Israel, having made lying its state policy, doesn’t even blush on account of the crime it has committed and so instead of expecting them to open an investigation the international community must investigate this incident in all its dimensions and give its legal response.
The State of Turkey won’t be satisfied only by watching this. Turkey is not an adolescent, rootless state. It is in no way a tribal State! No one should attempt to play around with this nation, to test the patience of Turkey. As precious as Turkey’s partnership is, equally as harsh will be her hostility toward such aggression by Israel.
Losing Turkey’s friendship and partnership is a price itself to pay. We have always maintained an historic friendship and collaboration with the Israeli and Jewish people. I do believe those Israeli people who watched this bloody attack in tears, who strongly criticized it, also understand very well that this incident does not befit human dignity and was a great mistake and a heavy blow to the friendship of both countries.
The issue is not a matter only between Turkey and Israel. The issue is Israel’s present lawlessness, and the world’s recognition of its inhuman practices of using violence and spilling blood; approaches that threaten global peace.
Turkey has always been, in the Middle East, on the side of peace. She has contributed to regional stability and security. In the recent past, for Israel’s relations with Palestine, Syria and Lebanon to be normalized, the country contributing was also Turkey. Israel now is showing attitudes, taking the most important peace defender in the region, and opposing her. Israel, from now on, must give up the falsehood it shows in attempting to explain its crimes toward others with justifications about security and referring to any international criticism as anti-Semitism.
There is an understanding, when violence is government policy, that Israel feels justified to oppress, tyrannize and maltreat others and she does not hesitate to shed blood but now there is no longer any way for the illegal actions of Israel to be covered over or intentionally misinterpreted or ignored. The time has come for the International community to say: STOP!
It is Israel who does not recognize over 100 UN Security Council resolutions against her. So, the United Nations cannot be content with the condemnation decision it has taken last night.
I just talked to the General Secretary of the United Nations. He is also coming to New York. And this evening at 8 o’clock Mr. Obama said he would come. I will also talk to him. I declare here that I will share precisely these issues with them.
Israel’s aggressive manner doubtlessly takes its source from the power they get from elsewhere. At this point, as Turkey, our position is obvious. Yesterday, from Chile, I spoke with one of the United Nations Security Council permanent members, Mrs. Merkel. I spoke with others today. England’s new Prime Minister also called me. I called him earlier and we talked. Today we will discuss this again. And with the others we will also talk.
We cannot leave alone what Israel has done. We cannot say to the Israeli government, all you do will go to your advantage. Everything has a price. And this government will have to pay for this.
Such replica comprehension as this that does not show respect for human life, that they find impossible to esteem any international right and law, we cannot have a peaceful attitude toward my friends.
It is impossible to support a comprehension that does not esteem and respect humanity and human rights.
A State, considering the security of its own people, cannot achieve this by bringing upon itself the hatred and hostility of the whole world by their illegal actions.
An administration that does not esteem others as humans except its own people cannot have a concern for world peace.
Israel has been destroying her defense shields one by one, losing her alliance points and isolating herself. The Israeli administration, generating grudges and hatred in the Middle East, is setting dynamite off in arenas where regional peace must be sought. Instability is spreading like evil entities escaping from Pandora’s Box.
The international community must immediately take action.
I also want to call to the Israeli people from here. We have always been against anti-Semitism. We have raised our voice against the injustice against the Jewish people. We have contributed so that the Israeli people can live in peace and security in the Middle East. Now, as the Israeli people, it is your turn to show the same sensitive attitude, the same humane attitude, to say, “Stop these cruelties being done.”
The policy of violence shown by the coalition government, violating any kind of right and law, is totally putting Israel’s interests aside. It is clearly putting your peace and security at risk. Due to the aggressive attitude of your government the State of Israel assumes a piracy position engaging in banditry.
Those reckless Israeli administrators who, thinking that with lies, deceit, shedding blood, aggressiveness, piracy, using state terrorism and massacring innocent people are governing a State are badly mistaken. Such actions by these politicians can only do evil to Israel and the Israeli people.
Before all else you must say stop to this situation. By the way, I thank the Turkish Jewish Community for putting in words their right and sincere reaction to the event. Our Jewish citizens have, as members of the Turkish people, defended and continue to defend the right position of Turkey to the utmost.
Looking with hatred upon our Jewish citizens or feeling different in any other manner is not acceptable; it cannot be and should never be.
Dear brothers and sisters, today is a new day. Today is a new beginning, a birth. Nothing will be like before, this is clearly apparent. An aggressive State which openly murders, massacres, cannot explain itself to humanity without regret, without being held to account for it; cannot look with dignity into the face of the international community.
Those ships were all ships of mercy. And their cargo was the heart of humanity.
72 miles, far from their own waters, entirely in open sea and international waters, Israel carried out an aggressive, illegal operation on a ship, a civil ship, not a military ship. An action that no nation is not allowed to do at all. To commit such a violent act on a civil ship, even the capture of the passengers, is itself a crime. Attacking innocent people with arms, to shed blood, and to massacre is clearly state terrorism. They deny it; they say that they were shot at. We are sick of your lies, we are sick. Be honest, honest, be honest.
The captured ships, together with the staff and volunteers immediately must be released. No one has the right to state that those ships, vessels filled with volunteers (activists), Members of the European Parliament, 60 journalists, and even a mother on board with her one year old infant Kaan, had any other intention, purpose, mission but to deliver humanitarian aid. This attack has one more time clearly proven the inhuman oppression and cruelty Israel has been using against Palestine and Gaza for years.
I have said it once before. The Israeli administrators, whom we told to their face how well they know how to murder, have one more time shown the world how good they indeed are at massacring innocents. It is incomprehensible that you would be handcuffing even heavily wounded innocent people. Hey! Can there be an explanation for his? Lying on the stretcher, wounded, you even handcuff him! Can that be explained with human rights, with universal values? It is no longer possible to tell the world how your victims were shown humanity.
All people of the earth condemn this clear cruelty, I know this. But it is not enough anymore to only condemn, we have to obtain results.
All people want justice on earth one day. Not power but justice will dominate. You should know that I want this too.
Turkey will use all opportunities that international law allows. At this course we will move together with the international community. I want the attention of all humanity to be attracted to this issue. With her blood-shedding policy Israel cannot legitimize this illegal, bloody murder with any excuse. She cannot rationally explain or justify it.
Israel – with no excuse, no reason – cannot wash the blood of innocents off her hands. This issue, this case, created by the bloody attack in the Mediterranean Sea, is not a problem between two countries but a problem for the entire world. I believe that no country or international institution considering humane values and virtues will just stand by and watch a murder of such dimensions.
From now on, whoever shuts their eyes to the bloody attacks of Israel, whoever ignores them, should know, they are accomplices in these murders. It must be understood that the matter is not one of defending against terrorism, that the matter is not a justifiable struggle against terrorism but that the matter is a deliberate and premeditated massacre, not only of aid workers aboard a defenseless ship in international waters but of a whole people, the Palestinians of Gaza and their city, in order to completely exterminate them. This has one more time been proven with this last incident that occurred.
You throw bombs on these people, you try phosphorous bombs on these people, you bomb hospitals, you bomb mosques, you attack schools, you bomb playgrounds, you even aim at the UN Office, and as if this illegality was not enough, you also cut off all kinds of needs of those people.
And after all of this, you withhold the aid volunteers who try to deliver to these people medicine, food, construction materials, and make them feel and suffer your inhuman savagery.
No one can condone or tolerate this illegality. I openly say it, stressing it, that no one but the insidious can support it, and Israel should not make the mistake of comparing Turkey with others. Such a mistake will have a very high price.
Israel, who shot a bullet through the heart of innocence and mercy, has chosen with this murder in the open sea, solitariness against the whole world; has chosen to isolate itself from the rest of humanity.
I will say it one more time. If everyone keeps silent, if all shut their eyes, if all turn their backs, we, as Turkey, won’t turn our back on Palestine, its people or Gaza. We won’t shut our eyes! We won’t cease crying for Palestine!!!
My dear brothers and sisters, our nation has to be firm. Our people must have dignity worthy of Turkey. We will take it into our hearts. The wounds of our wounded we will all together heal.
We are aware with satisfaction that all around Turkey our people are watching the issue closely with great sensitivity and they are showing their democratic reactions lawfully.
To say it, this is appropriate for our people. I believe that all our citizens will keep their steadfastness and move in dignity and common sense. Everyone should know and be sure that the love and friendship flowing down from the heart of humanity will pass one day all hindrance, barricades and reach its destination.
To those who stand behind this inhuman and illegal operation:
As much as you stand behind illegality, we stand behind laws.
As much as you stand behind the bloody operation, aggressiveness, behind terror, as much do we stand behind justice.
As much as you stand against civilians, against the oppressed in Gaza, Palestine as much stand we next to, behind civilians, innocent people, the Palestinian people, the people in Gaza.
We have been honored having this status through history. We are proud of it, and also from now on we will continue to act and move with the mission our history, civilization and State tradition has given us.