In the first major break with the foreign policy of the present government of Turkey, the opposition Republican Party has begun a campaign to prevent any commitment to support the Arab states against Israel. The Republican Party, under whose administration Turkey recognized the young Jewish State, has voiced its opposition to siding with the Arabs in several different ways.
A Republican deputy has introduced a motion in Parliament demanding clarification of a recent statement by Turkish President Celal Bayar ho, during a visit to a Jordan military post in Jerusalem, declared: “Don’t be surprised to see the Turkish Army and the Arab Legion fighting side-by-side against the aggressor in the event Jordan is attacked. “The secretary general of the Republican Party, Kasim Gulek, told a press conference that he hoped this statement fid not mean that the government had made a new undertaking against Israel.
The Republican newspaper “Dunya” has bluntly charged that Egypt and its allies are a threat to the peace of the Middle East now that they have received Communist weapons. The newspaper called on the Arab states to recognize Israel. Another newspaper, Akis, hit the President for his visit to the Jordan military outpost: and questioned whether Parliament would support the implicit promise to support Jordan against Israel in a fight.
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