Ankara’s invasion of Syria creates occupying power, says Bundestag report
The German Bundestag research committee wrote that Turkey’s government did not respond to a request for information about “the security objectives of Turkey."
By BENJAMIN WEINTHALUpdated: DECEMBER 30, 2018 01:33A Turkish military tank arrives at an army base in the border town of Reyhanli near the Turkish-Syrian border in Hatay province, Turkey.(photo credit: REUTERS)
A German Bundestag committee report declared on Wednesday that Turkey’s invasion of northern Syria constitutes an occupying power and casted serious doubt on Ankara’s legal standing to justify its military seizure of land.The Jerusalem Post obtained a copy of the nine-page report that was authored by the Bundestag’s Scientific Services Department and does not represent the view of the German federal parliament. According to the report, “Turkey’s military presence in Afrin as well as Azaz, Al Bab and Jarablus in northern Syria fits into the description of military occupation from an international law standpoint.”The report on Turkey was published in response to an expert opinion request from the largely pro-Russian President Vladimir Putin German Left Party. The Left Party, a mix of former east German communists, disaffected left-wing trade unionists and hardcore west German leftists, applauded US President Donald Trump’s announcement last week to withdraw 2,000 US troops from Syria.The Left Party is widely considered as Germany’s most anti-Israel party.The German Bundestag research committee wrote that Turkey’s government did not respond to a request for information about “the security objectives of Turkey – in particular the duration of the Turkish military presence.”The report also noted that a proposed Turkish government argument that it invaded northern Syria due to self-defense measures against the Islamic State terrorist organization would not hold water because the Islamic State has been weakened in its territory in Syria.The Kurdish YPG militia in northern Syria has, according to reports, appealed to Syrian President Bashar Assad for help to protect Manbij.Critics say Trump’s abrupt decision to pull troops out of Syria will give a shot in the arm to alliance of Hezbollah, Putin and Iran. The US classifies Hezbollah as a terrorist entity and Iran as the leading international state sponsor of terrorism.
