Reclusive Turkish Imam Criticizes Gaza Flotilla

Imam Fethullah Gülen, a controversial and reclusive U.S. resident who is considered Turkey's most influential religious leader, criticized a Turkish led flotilla for trying to deliver aid without Israel's consent.

Speaking in his first interview with a U.S. news organization, Mr. Gülen spoke of watching news coverage of Monday's deadly confrontation between Israeli commandos and Turkish aid group members as its flotilla approached Israel's sea blockade of Gaza. "What I saw was not pretty," he said. "It was ugly."

Mr. Gülen said organizers' failure to seek accord with Israel before attempting to deliver aid "is a sign of defying authority, and will not lead to fruitful matters."

Mr. Gülen's views and influence within Turkey are under growing scrutiny now, as factions within the country battle to remold a democracy that is a key U.S. ally in the Middle East. The struggle, as many observers characterize it, pits the country's old-guard secularist and military establishment against Islamist-leaning government workers and ruling politicians who say they seek a more democratic and religiously tolerant Turkey. Mr. Gülen inspires a swath of the latter camp, though the extent of his reach remains hotly disputed.

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Spring on the Arab people

A major disagreement between observers and commentators is on the nature of the driving force of change. Is it domestic or international, meaning is it the US holding the strings? Whatever the verdict may be, everyone seems to be surprised and is unsure of the outcome.

If observed carefully, one can see similar trends of change as well as different clusters of countries that may end up with similar political structures. The most obvious are Tunisia and Egypt, which avoided bloodshed and are in transition to constitutional democracies. This does not mean that the armed forces overseeing the transition period will not remain in the equation until a pluralistic regime can mature.

There is another group, like Syria and Bahrain, with varying degrees of participation by armed forces. The fall of minority governments in these countries may have such devastating effects that they may opt to negotiate to remain in power provided that they share that power with other forces which had been kept out of the political center. If they do not, they are likely to fall as well, with much bloodshed.

Algeria , Iran , Israel , Jordan , Libya , Morocco , Oman , Saudi Arabia , Turkey , Yemen

Israel has blocked the convoy

An estimated 19 dead, dozens injured, on the pro Palestinian flotilla lead boat, the Turkish Marmara with 600 activists aboard, intercepted by Israel naval commandos 80 miles out at sea, Monday, May 31. Israel reports the clash was triggered by passengers shooting with a weapon snatched from a soldier and wielding knives and iron bars. Ten troops were injured, two critically. All casualties have been ferried by helicopter to Israel hospitals. Nationwide alert for disturbances declared in Israel and around its borders.
Turkey, which sponsored the flotilla to break Israel's blockade of Gaza and deliver aid to the Hamas-ruled territory, now threatens incalculable consequences for Israel's attack. The Turkish chief of staff was recalled urgently to Ankara from his visit to Egypt.

Israel