Skip to content
  • Image
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Podcasts
  • Email
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Opinion
  • News
  • Features
  • Comment
  • Store
The Arab Daily News

The Arab Daily News

Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem

  • About
    • About
    • Our Writers
    • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
    • Book Store
    • Contact
    • Submit Book Reviews, Press Releases
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Corrections Policy
    • Profile on Ray Hanania
    • Submit Press Release
  • Features
    • Food
    • Book Review
    • Humor
    • Movies
    • Travel
  • Arab Stores Targeted
  • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Heritage America resources
    • Directory
      • Groups & Organizations
      • Mosques, Churches
      • Restaurants
      • 2008 & 2014 Arab Media Directories
    • National Arab Heritage Month
    • Video: Chicago Arab History
    • Video: Photo Array of Chicago Arabs
    • Overview of Arabs in America
    • Hanania standup comedy
    • Arabs on the Titanic
    • Obituaries
  • Podcasts
    • Arab News Ray Hanania Radio
    • Ray Hanania on Politics Podcast
    • Podcast Info
    • Hanania Podcast intro
    • Live Arab Radio
  • Your Views
  • Hanania on Tiktok
  • Toggle search form
  • Arab Democratic Club Feb 12, 2023 Forum & Brunch flier
    Arab Democrats host forum for Chicago and suburban candidates Feb. 12 American Arabs
  • The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced Dr. Manal Fakhoury has been elected to the position of Chair of the National Board of Directors, and that attorneys Spojmie Nasiri of California and John Floyd of Texas have joined the organization’s National Board.
    CAIR Announces Dr. Manal Fakhoury as New Board Chair, New Board Members Spojmie Nasiri and John Floyd American Arabs
  • AHRC Executive Director Imad Hamad
    AHRC: Honor Dr. King Day with Civility, Unity, and Action American Arabs
  • Citgo Gas Station and Quik Mart at 3759 W. Chicago Ave in Chicago ordered closed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot because a street gang member with an AK-47 killed someone in front of the store. Only Arab and Muslim stores are being closed by the Mayor
    When Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot targeted Arab businesses in 2021 and 2022 Activism
  • Hussam al-Mayman, The Mayman Show, podcast Arab News
    Arab News launches third season of The Mayman Show podcast Arab News
  • State Rep. Cyril Nichols interviewed on live Arab American radio in Detroit with host Ray Hanania Friday Dec. 9, 2022
    Nichols discusses need to improve Arab-Black relations in Chicagoland American Arabs
  • Voting sticker issued to voters in Cook County elections in 2016. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Gov. Pritzker Announces Six Appointments to Boards and Commissions — no Arabs included American Arabs
  • Closure notice posted on the doors and windows of Arab American businesses during Mayor Lori Lightfoot's closure of Arab owned stores in June - Sept. 2021. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Pritzker again ignores needs of Arab businesses in latest appointments Activism
  • Arab American Democratic Club (AADC) official candidate endorsements for the November 8, 2022 General elections.
    Arab American Democratic Club issues endorsements for Nov. 8, 2022 Cook County Illinois elections Activism
  • Arab Democrats urge NO VOTE on Gov. J.B. Pritzker re-election bid Activism
  • Assyrian American GOP issues endorsements in Nov, 8, 2022 elections
    Assyrian American GOP group endorses candidates in Illinois Activism
  • Abdullah Hammoud, elected Mayor of Dearborn Nov. 2, 2021. Photo courtesy of Abdullah Hammoud Facebook Page
    AHRC’s 2022 Spirit of Humanity Gala a Great Success American Arabs
  • Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts Arab World
  • Rep. Cyril Nichols to be feted by supporters at fundraiser Saturday Oct. 22 Activism
  • Stand up For Human Rights website, United Nations
    UN experts condemn Israel’s ‘sadistic’ punitive measures against French-Palestinian rights defender Salah Hammouri Activism
Elysee Palace, in Paris, France. Photo courtesy of Abdennour Toumi

“Olive Branch” Paris Position: Reticence and Opacity

Posted on February 2, 2018February 2, 2018 By Abdennour Toumi 1 Comment on “Olive Branch” Paris Position: Reticence and Opacity
SHARE ...
          
 
  

  • Tweet

“Olive Branch” Paris Position: Reticence and Opacity

Ankara’s Operation “Olive Branch” in Afrin indicates a new orientation to reinstate Paris’ position in the Syrian civil war by trying to be a major player in the process of Syrian peace talks negotiations.

By Abdennour Toumi

Turkey’s current military foray Operation “Olive Branch” in Afrin, a northwestern Kurdish enclave, is targeting the Syrian Kurdish YPG/YPJ (Kurdish People’s Protection Units), an armed militia wing of the PYD that Ankara sees as an offshoot of the PKK. A new front of dispute has opened in the seven-year-old Syrian civil war over the Syrian Kurdish enclave, which has put Turkey’s national security at risk and at odds in its relations with its NATO allies and international coalition in their fight against ISO.

Paris’ position regarding the Syrian civil war has been diplomatically incoherent. It has become a reticent argument towards Ankara, a European and NATO ally.

In France, the Turkish President is constantly bashed by the Parisian mainstream media, the left elite and politicians because of the ideology and the bold public policies President Erdoğan has been initiating and exercising in his country since 2002. The French media and elite complain about the Conservative-Islamist government led by the AKParti for its tumultuous relation with the Turkish “liberal” press.

Elysee Palace, in Paris, France
Elysee Palace, in Paris, France. Photo courtesy of Abdennour Toumi

A political image that puts Paris-Ankara relations in neutral drive reveals that, all things considered, Paris enjoys its one-on-one relation with Ankara as a solid ally in its fight on terror, Intelligence sharing and the thorny migrants and “refugees/guests” question — during President Erdoğan’s visit to Paris last month the two governments signed a commercial deal that will boost both countries’ economic growth. As President Erdoğan put it, “[he hopes] it would be lucrative for both sides.” The aviation agreement with Air-Bus would further enhance aviation cooperation, according to The Daily Sabah.

Nevertheless Ankara’s Operation “Olive Branch” in Afrin indicates a new orientation to reinstate Paris’ position in the Syrian civil war by trying to be a major player in the process of Syrian peace talks negotiations, a position until now which seems lame. Between Geneva, Sochi in Russia and Astana in Kazakhstan, Paris is lost in the translation and missing in action.

Thus France asked the U.N. Security Council to convene an urgent meeting, according to Mr. Le Drian, France’s Foreign Minister, on Twitter, noting he had already held talks with a Turkish colleague on the morning of January 21.

On Wednesday President Macron in his interview with le Figaro warned Turkey that the “Olive Branch” operation against Syrian Kurdish militias should not become an excuse to invade the country. Instead he wanted Ankara to coordinate its action with its allies.  “If it turns out that this operation takes a turn other than to fight a potential terrorist threat to the Turkish border and becomes an invasion operation, [then] this becomes a real problem for us,” President Macron told the paper.

Halfeti, Urfa on the east bank of the river Euphrates in Şanlıurfa Province in Turkey, 120 km from the city of Şanlıurfa. Photo courtesy of Abdennour Toumi
Halfeti, Urfa on the east bank of the river Euphrates in Şanlıurfa Province in Turkey, 120 km from the city of Şanlıurfa. Photo courtesy of Abdennour Toumi

Today Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu reacted to President Macron’s statement, saying that France was in no position to lecture Turkey over its cross-border offensive, referring to past French military interventions in Algeria and other parts of Africa, calling it “an insult.”

In September, 2013, Macron’s predecessor, François Hollande, called upon Bachar to step down in the hopes of launching a military intervention with the U.S. after the Assad regime’s use of chemical weapons on civilians near Damascus. But President Macron made a U-turn with his predecessor’s Syrian policy. “The removal of Bachar is not an option, the main enemy is ISO,” he told France 2 network.

But the appearance of ISO in the summer of 2014 changed the conflict’s dynamic and the West’s national security and interest imperatives. In July, 2014, ISO took the Iraqi city of Mosul and began making noises in Syria in Der a-Zzor and a-Reqqa. Then in September, ISO took the Kurdish city of Kobani/Aïn al-Arab, about 12 miles from the Turkish city of Suruç.

Meanwhile Turkey was in an electoral hot season, first a Presidential election, then later in spring, 2015, the Parliamentarian election. The legalist Kurdish party HDP made a historical win and reached the high bar of 10%, hence HDP was able to form a parliamentarian group in the Turkish Parliament, while the AKP was struggling to form a national government, which led to an early election in fall, 2015.

Kurdish politicians and militants in Turkey were politically jubilant, the French and American media were looking at the party’s Co-Chairman, Mr. Demirtaş, as Turkey’s Obama. At the same time, the military leaders of the PKK in the Qandil mountains, the Iraqi Kurds’ armed branch (Peshmerga), and the YPG/YPJ (the armed branch of the PYD in Syria) were dancing the Debka (Kurdish pop culture dance) celebrating their military victory over ISO elements in Kobani/Aïn al-Arab in January, 2015, and later in Tel-Abydh.

At that point the time had come for Ankara to stop the Kurdish euphoria in the Euphrates river. But France, like the U.S., looked at Ankara-PKK tensions as a domestic matter, and to the Syrian Kurdish as another wild card to further destabilize Ankara with its troubles with FETÖ (the Gülen Movement) post the failed coup in July, 2016, even though Paris and Washington called the leftist Turkish Kurdish guerrilla force a terrorist organization.

This “double” speech of Paris drives Ankara nuts stirring distrust in its natural allies in NATO and the international coalition fighting ISO.

According to the Syrian Kurdish elite I met with in Urfa (Turkey), when the Syrians rose up against al-Assad regime’s tyranny in 2011, the Kurds, like other ethnic and sectarian groups, demanded justice and democratic values in Syria. Later, in 2014, after the military and security vacuum of the civil war, the Kurds established the three self-governing regions of Western Kurdistan (Rojava), the cantons Çizre (Jeezra), Turkey, Kobani/Aïn al-Arab and Afrin as an extension of Kurdish Regional Government in Iraq to the Mediterranean.

“At first, Kurds did not want to be part of the Syrian civil war, they were against al-Assad regime and Islamic-armed groups alike,” as Mohammed, a Syrian Kurdish lawyer put it.

The Kobani story line got as good as it gets in the French media, but to the Turks and the Syrian Kurd and Arab “refugees/guests” in Turkey, just another line of myth in history line.

The official French relationship with the Kurds in Turkey and Iraq goes back to the 80’s under President François Mitterrand. Subsequently the French First-Lady Madame Mitterrand supported the Iraqi Kurds and in 1991-92 created an Association under her name which was a sort of Kurdish lobby in Paris, pressing for Kurdish rights in Iraq and Turkey.  She played an active role for the so-called State Inference Right in sovereign states territory led by Bernard Kouchner, then Humanitarian Action and Health Minister, (co-founder of the French NGOs Médecins Sans Frontières and Médecins du Monde) to protect minorities in the Middle East.

Ever since then the Kurds feel that “special” treatment from the French media, left elite and politicians, while the official position toward the Kurds is opaque. President Macron did not support the Iraqi Kurdish Independence referendum from the Iraqi Federal State, it considers the PKK a terrorist group. As for the PYD and its militia YPG/YPJ, the Kurdish story from Paris looks like a war-time romance about men of bravery and women of courage.

But what is missing? The Kurds are not a homogenous group as it sounds in the French media. There are extremist, nationalist, and racist factions like any other ethnic group in MENA. The Kurds in France are no different than the Berbers when it comes to being used as a political distraction against their homeland national cohesion. So, let the olive branches spread wide and welcome the doves to land.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Abdennour Toumi
Follow me:
Abdennour Toumi
Abdennour Toumi:
- France correspondent for The Arab Daily News.
- www.bareed-areej.com Editor-in-Chief
رئيس تحرير مجلة بريد الأريج
- Political consultant at IMPR a Think-Tank based in Ankara, Turkey.
- Member at the European Observatory for Arabic Language Teaching based in Paris, France.
- Affiliated with Sociology of Islam Journal and contributor at Middle East Studies / International Studies, Sociology of Islam and Muslim Societies Center, Portland State University in Portland, OR.

EDUCATION: Diplôme des Études Approfondies (DEA) in Political Science from Toulouse University I, France. Master’s degree in Law from Algiers University, Algeria.

Email im at: nourhty@gmail.com
Abdennour Toumi
Follow me:
Latest posts by Abdennour Toumi (see all)
  • The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Is the Neither-Peace-nor-Security As-sumption Dominating Again? - June 7, 2021
  • Algeria: “I Can See Clearly Now” - August 5, 2019
  • Majesty Mohammed VI and General Gaïd Salah Tear Down This Wall! - July 29, 2019

  • Tweet

SHARE ...
          
 
  
 
          
 
 Tweet 
Arab World, Bloggers, Commentary, Editors Picks, Middle East, Opinion, Paris, Syria, Turkey Tags:Ankara, France, Kurds, Paris, PKK, President Erdogan, PYD, Syria, Turkey

Post navigation

Previous Post: Beware of pro-Israel Quora.com
Next Post: Obit: Illinois legislator George Shadid, 1929 – 2018

Related Posts

  • Attacked by Israeli soldiers and armed Israeli settler terrorists, Palestinians respond with protests and rock throwing in the Gaza Strip. Photo copyright 2015 Mohammed Asad and The Arab Daily News
    Protests against Israeli embargo and occupation continue Arab World
  • Racism plays hard in Israeli elections Arab World
  • The Joint Arab List is announced by Israel's discriminated non-Jewish Arab population. Photo courtesy of WIkipedia
    Arab election unity puts spotlight on Israeli racism & discrimination Arab World
  • Americans for Peace Now settlement app
    Americans for Peace Now launches new “Settlement Map” App Civil Rights
  • Retailers pull racist anti-Arab costumes for Halloween American Arabs
  • Turkish-Russian tension set to spill onto European pitches Arab World

More Related Articles

Trumpmadinejad? Not until 2020 Activism
Arabs among TIME Magazine’s Top 100 list American Arabs
Perfect Assassination of Jordanian Writer Activism
New American TV show fuels more anti-Arab stereotypes American Arabs
NBC Journalist Vivian Salama emcees the 20th Annual AAI Gibran Gala. Photo by Jason Dixson Photography. Photo courtesy of the AAI AAI’s Gibran Gala honors champions of humanity American Arabs
Algerian Democracy Needs Democrats Abdennour Toumi

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • OPINION COLUMNS
  • Tiktok.com/@RayHanania
    Israeli-push behind effort to ban Tiktok in the United States
    January 19, 2023
  • Ghassan Rubeiz
    To what extent is Hezbollah responsible for the current crisis in Lebanon?
    January 17, 2023
  • Image from Rashid-al-Din Hamadani's "A Compendium of Chronicles. Image courtesy of Wikipedia
    Why allow religious extremists to re-define Islam in the West?
    January 10, 2023
  • CAIR Executive Director and co-founder Nihad Awad
    This Thanksgiving, let’s use our Blessings for good
    November 23, 2022
  • NEWS
  • Arab Democratic Club Feb 12, 2023 Forum & Brunch flier
    Arab Democrats host forum for Chicago and suburban candidates Feb. 12
    January 18, 2023
  • The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced Dr. Manal Fakhoury has been elected to the position of Chair of the National Board of Directors, and that attorneys Spojmie Nasiri of California and John Floyd of Texas have joined the organization’s National Board.
    CAIR Announces Dr. Manal Fakhoury as New Board Chair, New Board Members Spojmie Nasiri and John Floyd
    January 12, 2023
  • AHRC Executive Director Imad Hamad
    AHRC: Honor Dr. King Day with Civility, Unity, and Action
    January 11, 2023
  • Citgo Gas Station and Quik Mart at 3759 W. Chicago Ave in Chicago ordered closed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot because a street gang member with an AK-47 killed someone in front of the store. Only Arab and Muslim stores are being closed by the Mayor
    When Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot targeted Arab businesses in 2021 and 2022
    January 4, 2023
  • NEWSWIRE
  • Arab Democratic Club Feb 12, 2023 Forum & Brunch flier
    Arab Democrats host forum for Chicago and suburban candidates Feb. 12
    January 18, 2023
  • The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced Dr. Manal Fakhoury has been elected to the position of Chair of the National Board of Directors, and that attorneys Spojmie Nasiri of California and John Floyd of Texas have joined the organization’s National Board.
    CAIR Announces Dr. Manal Fakhoury as New Board Chair, New Board Members Spojmie Nasiri and John Floyd
    January 12, 2023
  • AHRC Executive Director Imad Hamad
    AHRC: Honor Dr. King Day with Civility, Unity, and Action
    January 11, 2023
  • Stand up For Human Rights website, United Nations
    UN experts condemn Israel’s ‘sadistic’ punitive measures against French-Palestinian rights defender Salah Hammouri
    October 19, 2022

Creative Commons License
All work on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

  • 08-09-21-Ziyad-Sices-Ad.jpg
  • 08-09-21-Ziyad-Ad-Pantry-essentials.jpg
  • ZiyadBrandLogo-2016BlackRedBackgrnd.jpg
  • BOOK REVIEWS
  • Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    October 24, 2022
  • Stories My Father Told Me by author and artist Helen Zughaib, book cover. Photo courtesy of Cune Press
    Stories My Father Told Me by author and artist Helen Zughaib
    November 1, 2021
  • ENTERTAINMENT
  • Hussam al-Mayman, The Mayman Show, podcast Arab News
    Arab News launches third season of The Mayman Show podcast
    December 15, 2022
  • Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    October 24, 2022
  • Comedian Ramy Youssef courtesy of his Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ramysfaceboo/
    “Ramy” cable series melds Arab world reality with every day American life
    October 22, 2022
  • The Ray Hanania Radio Show Live Wed 5 PM EST in Detroit, Washington DC, Ontario and on Thursday in Chicago. Watch the program live at Facebook.com/ArabNews
    Second Season of “The Ray Hanania Show” Arab American radio launches April 6
    April 4, 2022
  • American Arab CHamber President HassanNijem accepts the Proclamation from Chicago Ald. Roderick Sawyer at the Chamber dinner March 30, 2022
    Chicagoland celebrates Arab American Heritage Month
    March 31, 2022
  • New-iTunes-1400-x-1400-The-Ray-Hanania-Show-Podcast-Icon-300-x-300.jpg
  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png
  • Podcast-iTunes-Logo-Chi-City-Hall-1985.jpg
  • terroristbookcover-300-x-300.jpg
  • powerpr300x300ad.jpg
Arab News Newspaper Logo
Read the Arab News, the leading English language newspaper in the MIddle East

Follow Ray Hanania at Gab.com, MeWe.com and IDobbinate.com, the alternatives to Facebook and Twitter Censorship.

Click here to get information on The Ray Hanania Radio Show and its podcasts

Copyright © 2023 The Arab Daily News.

Powered by PressBook Premium theme