Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey: if not now, when?

Israel is committing a genocide before the eyes of the world. A part of the world that witnesses it is in revolt against all that is happening, but watches in great helplessness, almost to the point of losing its mind. That it reaches the point of losing its mind is not only because of the horror of the genocidal attacks, but because the rest of the world either endorses this genocide, with all its savagery, barbarity and criminality, or does not care at all. Moreover, even the harshest criticisms of those who oppose it are not enough to stop Israel and the powers behind it, or even to make them hesitate.

Israel, for its part, continues its murders without caring about any of the criticisms, condemnations, protests, even boycotts directed at it. It has come to the point that even the harshest criticisms, protests and other actions lose their meaning after a certain point.

A more effective way is being sought. Israel recognizes neither law, nor humanity, nor criticism, nor protest. The U.S., which supports it, does not care what the world says either, and does not mind falling into contradiction with its own discourses and claims. That is why there is no point in constantly reminding it of its own values and rules. Its eyes are covered with blood, it has lost its mind, its conscience has darkened. That is why even the reactions of Erdoğan, who is among the harshest critics of Israel and has always taken the clearest stance toward it, are beginning to be seen as insufficient by those seeking a more effective solution for Palestine. Because they have no effect. Yet Erdoğan, at every level, makes the harshest criticisms of Israel and even of the U.S. and all the European countries that back it, trying to move the world with an unparalleled shuttle diplomacy. All that he does is seen as insufficient because it does not change the outcome. For when a bandit sets out to rule the world, people look for a savior.

Everyone knows that more is needed to stop Israel and the U.S. that supports it without limit. In a period when no one dared to cross Israel, Erdoğan telling Shimon Peres to his face at Davos "you know very well how to kill!" and on top of that delivering the "one minute" ultimatum was truly a very revolutionary act and had a shock effect on Israel and all over the world. Because until then no one had dared that much. That is why that outburst became a real turning point in policy regarding Israel and brought about the emergence of a new consciousness and state of mind throughout the Islamic world. Indeed, this process also carried Erdoğan to a unique point in the leadership of the Islamic world. This was also the beginning of a process in which the desire to see Erdoğan at the forefront in every injustice and every wrong the Islamic world faces began to become habitual. Today everyone is again waiting for a step that will be effective against this terrible genocide, and is again waiting for it from Erdoğan.

Yet in this matter not only Türkiye but the whole Islamic world, especially Saudi Arabia and Egypt, must by all means join the process together in a different way. What each can do alone may be limited and insufficient, but they must know that there is nothing they could not do together. There is a crisis, and those who can find a way out of this crisis open a wide field for themselves for leadership as well.

Let us remember that King Faisal bin Abdulaziz, who convened the Islamic Conference in 1969 following the attack on the Al-Aqsa Mosque, gained a very important place not only in Saudi Arabia but in the whole Islamic world. He brought that place to a very important point especially with the oil embargo he launched in 1973, during the Arab-Israeli war, in response to America's unconditional and unlimited support for Israel. Thanks to the great confidence he gave the world's Muslims that they were neither ownerless nor helpless, King Faisal acquired a very respected place in the Islamic world both for himself and for his country, Saudi Arabia.

Henry Kissinger, one of the architects of the U.S.'s Israel-centered foreign policy, who died recently at the age of a hundred, visited Faisal while the embargo was continuing, and the dialogues during their talks became legendary. When Faisal said, "If you give up supporting Israel, the embargo will end," Kissinger threatened to bomb the oil wells, and Faisal gave Kissinger the following historic answer:

"Of course you can bomb our oil wells. But remember that we and our ancestors lived in tents and subsisted on dates and camel's milk; we can return to our tents and live that way again; but you can no longer live without oil."

Whatever it is that the U.S. or Israel frightens the leaders of the Islamic world with today, these leaders must overcome these fears and know that no harm they could inflict is worth fearing them for. Fear stems not from the enemy's power but from one's own dependencies. Perhaps one should attend the magnificent lessons the Gazans are giving all humanity these days in order to learn not to fear anyone but God. In this way everyone can overcome unwarranted fears. One must realize that the reckoning that the unlived childhoods of thousands of Palestinian babies and children savagely slaughtered in their cradles will bring before you will be far heavier, more lasting and the only real one, compared with any reckoning the U.S. and Israel could bring before you in any way.

No one can sit in those seats with honor without making the genocidal baby-killer Netanyahu swallow the words he uttered in the arrogance of "if you want to protect your seats, shut up and watch what happens."

Today Saudi Arabia, because of its being the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, if not out of respect for King Faisal's courageous, honorable and noble legacy, and Egypt, because it is the most populous Arab country and because of its historical depth, must see that a breakthrough they would make against Israel, against the powers that support Israel without limit, could bring them back onto the stage of history among the leaders.

Otherwise they must ask themselves when and for what the armies, weapons and money they have been accumulating until now will be of use. If not today, when? If not to protect the Arab-Muslims subjected to genocide, for what? If not for the sake of Jerusalem, for the sake of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, for the sake of what?