The IX. International Middle East Symposium, organized by Istanbul Gelisim University Political and Social Research Application and Research Center (IGUSAM), brought together many academics, researchers and experts from the geography of the region. The opening speech of the symposium, which took place on October 15-16 and covered "New Geopolitical Breaks and Sovereignty Problems in the Middle East" this year, was given by Asst. Prof. Ali Semin, MOKHA Executive Director Raed Batis, UMAM President Prof. Ahmed Zekrallah and Symposium Coordinator Asst. Prof. Emre Gündoğdu.
Stating that they aim to find solutions to these problems by discussing the economic, social and political crises in the Middle East geography with this symposium, IGU Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences, Department of Political Science and International Relations Lecturer Dr. Emre Gündoğdu, "We have prepared an environment where a rich participation environment, especially scientists in the Middle East geography, is provided and a ground for discussion is created. This event is a scientific event that we have put forward in order to develop various solutions to the problems in the Middle East geography, especially the crimes against humanity committed by Israel in Palestine and the Israeli occupation of Lebanon."
“The hypocrisy of the West is shameful”
Criticizing the West's unresponsiveness despite Israel's massacre in Palestine, Gündoğdu also added: "Israel's genocide against the Palestinian people is at stake. We see that the attitude of the Western world when it comes to Palestine and its attitude on other issues are not equivalent. We see that the United States and the member states of the European Union, which claim to be the locomotive on issues such as equality, human rights and the rule of law in principle, turn their backs on this issue when it comes to the massacres carried out by Israel in Palestine, close their eyes as if no crimes against humanity were committed there and they hush up the matter. This is hypocrisy and shameful.”
Istanbul Gelisim University Faculty Member and IGU Political and Social Research Application and Research Center Director Prof. Şenol Durgun, on the other hand, emphasized that the problems in the region were brought to the table by the people of that geography with the International Middle East Symposium and explained the impact that the turmoil in the Middle East could have on Türkiye as follows:
''Fire burns everyone around the place where it falls''
“The massacre in the neighbourhood cares us as well. Since 1948, we have been experiencing such a problem in the Middle East with the establishment of the state of Israel. The area is restless, in turmoil and chaos. Of course, this is not something that can be explained only by the existence of Israel. It is Britain and western powers that have placed Israel in the region. In the 20th century, this job is mostly carried out by the USA. We see that the globalization followed by the USA, especially after the end of the bipolar world order, actually follows a policy of being unstable, irregular and uncertain in this region with an Americanization policy. This is also a policy he made to establish hegemony here. Of course, it will have an impact on Türkiye. This fire is slowly coming towards us. The war has now spread to Lebanon, and according to the latest reports, Israel has deployed troops to a district in Syria. We see that Israel is gradually expanding its own operational environment. This region is not a distant region for us. There's danger approaching. The fire is getting bigger and bigger, and it is very likely that it will affect to us. This policy leaps to us indirectly, if not directly.”
“I hope it will lead to the awakening of the peoples in the Middle East”
IGU Vice Rector Prof. Necmettin Maraşlı stated that they aim to present different perspectives on the solution of problems in the Middle East with the symposium and added: "I believe that the symposium will contribute to the solution of current problems in the Middle East. This is a great prestige issue, especially for our university. I hope that it will continue at the next conference. I hope that the symposium will lead to the awakening of the peoples in the Middle East, and I believe that future solutions will be in that direction."
