ANKARA — For the first time, Hamas has warned Turkey against deploying
troops in Lebanon.
Hamas officials warned the pro-Islamic government of Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Erdogan that a Turkish presence along the Israeli-Lebanese
border could result in bloodshed. They said Hamas would resist any United
Nations effort, which would include Turkey, to disarm Hamas and other
militias in southern Lebanon, Middle East Newsline reported.
"These troops, who will be on duty with UN uniforms, will try to take
our guns away," Hamas representative Vahid Suleiman said. "We will resist
this."
In an anti-Israel rally in Konya in central Turkey on Sept. 16, Suleiman
warned that Turkish participation in the UN Force in Lebanon could turn
bloody. Turkey was the only NATO ally that invited Hamas leaders after their
win in Palestinian elections in January 2006.
"Furthermore, it will not be possible for us to distinguish whether or
not these troops are Turkish," Suleiman, quoted by the semi-official
Anatolia News Agency, said. "Sending troops to Lebanon is outright murder."
Turkish sources said Hamas has maintained an unofficial representative
in the country. They said Hamas speakers have been allowed to address
Islamic rallies and political meetings.
The Erdogan government's decision to deploy troops in Lebanon has
sparked widespread opposition. Parliamentarians have warned that Turkish
troops would confront Hizbullah or Palestinian militias in southern Lebanon.
Ankara plans to send about 1,000 peace-keepers to Lebanon by November
2006. Turkey as
well as other NATO participants said they would not disarm Hizbullah or
other militias.
"I repeat: We will either be the subject or object of world politics,"
Erdogan said on Monday. "It is out of the question that we remain outside of
this power game played in our neighborhood even if we don't want to get
involved."
