The tension created by the rivalry between Iran and Israel in their quest to establish regional hegemony turned into a war between the two countries with Israel's extensive attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities and missile bases on 13 June. 

 

While there are fears that the war will turn into a regional war or cause a heavy destruction, Ümit Aktaş, a researcher and writer among a group of Muslim intellectuals, said that the war that broke out between Iran and Israel is a part of the US and Israel's domination plan in the Middle East. He stated that the Israeli-Iranian war can be defined with the 7 October attack of Hamas, but this is not a milestone, there were conflicts and tensions before that. Stating that Palestine has been under constant Israeli attack and Iran has settled in the region by establishing an alliance with Syria and Lebanese Hezbollah, Aktaş said, "These developments have transformed the conflict from an Israeli-Palestinian conflict to an Iran-Israeli conflict."

 

'ULTIMATE SOLUTION IS PEACE'

 

Stating that Iran is waging a war against Israel with the forces close to it, Aktaş said, "Recently, Israel's air strikes on Iran and Iran's missile attacks in response have turned into a hot war and put the region into a conflict again. Hot war can be limited and appeased, but this does not mean that the problem will end. In order to solve the problem, final peace must be established in the region."

 

'PEOPLES MUST BE ASSURED'

 

Stating that the current systemic crisis cannot be overcome by war, Aktaş expressed that the crisis will be possible with a confederal structure like the European Union (EU) or by the peoples living there to be given an autonomous, independent integrated status. Aktaş said, "The status of the peoples living in this region is very uncertain. In order for the peoples to get rid of this uncertainty, they need a higher definition and, depending on that definition, a status and assurance that they have autonomous and democratic rights. This assurance should cover all the Palestinian people, the Israeli people, the Kurds, Assyrians, Armenians and Yazidis living there. There is a need for a comprehensive system in which the peoples' political freedoms and rights are guaranteed. In order for this initiative to emerge, external interference such as the USA and Iran must be removed."

 

'A NEW REGIONAL MAP IS NEEDED'

 

Underlining that the artificial map that emerged in the Middle East after the First World War with the Sykes-Picot Treaty must change, Aktaş said, "This map must be overcome somehow. The Palestinian-Israeli crisis that emerged in the region after the Second World War constantly destabilises the region. For this reason, a structure that will overcome this crisis and satisfy both peoples must emerge. Again, a status quo must emerge that will provide the Kurdish people, who are divided into four countries, with freedom, comfort and political freedoms. As mentioned in the latest declaration issued by Abdullah Öcalan, a new understanding of the region that defines the issue with a democratic and independent state of freedom should be defined, and a more democratic regional map and unity should emerge in which borders are transitive, religious and political rights are recognised, and relations between various cultures are relaxed."

 

'WAR MUST BE ABANDONED IMMEDIATELY'

 

Emphasising that the countries in the region should give up the concept of war as soon as possible, Aktaş said "Wars do not bring an end to any dispute and lead to a situation such as the continuation of instability with the intervention of foreign and global powers in the region. In order to overcome this, they need to put aside this armed conflict between them, go to the path of negotiation and peace, share the geography again and solve these problems humanely by discussing the possibility of living together. This situation needs to be overcome somehow, and for this, actors within the region need to come to the fore. For example, actors such as Erdoğan, Bahçeli and Öcalan, who are prominent in the peace process in Turkey, as well as civil society organisations and actors in Israel and Palestine, need to come forward and take the initiative and prevent foreign interventions in the region. As long as there are foreign interventions, it is not possible for this region to settle down and achieve peace."

 

WHO IS UMIT AKTAŞ?

 

Ümit Aktaş was born on 28 August 1955 in the village of Pınaryolu in Refahîye district of Erzîngan. He graduated from Istanbul State Academy of Engineering and Architecture, Kadıköy Department of Electrical Engineering. He started writing poetry during his university years. His poems and essays were published in various newspapers and magazines. His articles, poems and essays were published in New Devir, Monthly Magazine, Yeni Yorum, Girişim, Bu Meydan, Yeni Zemin, Kitap Dergisi, Nehir, Bilgi ve Hikmet, Değişim, Harman, Kaknüs newspapers and magazines since 1989. He was the editorial director of Özgün Düşünce magazine and the editorial coordinator of Özgün Duruş newspaper.

 

MA / Esra Solin Dal