Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, whom President Erdoğan has been inviting to visit Turkey for some time and lamenting his lack of response, finally came to Turkey last week and delivered a speech at the Grand National Assembly. In his remarks, Abbas declared that Gaza is an inseparable part of Palestine and announced his intention to visit Gaza soon. He also emphasized that the Palestinian issue should be resolved not through war but through peaceful and diplomatic means within the framework of international law. Criticizing Israel's attacks, Abbas stated, "Security and military methods will yield no results; peace can only be achieved through political solutions, justice, and methods based on international law, as well as on the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people." Consistent with this perspective, Abbas referred to the ongoing case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, predicting that the days when "Netanyahu and his gang" will be held accountable in international courts are near.Given that Mahmoud Abbas, the principal advocate of the case, delivered a relatively calm and reasonable speech emphasizing a peaceful resolution to the Palestine and Gaza issue, it is likely President Erdoğan was not entirely satisfied. Erdoğan, known for his consistently strong rhetoric on the Palestinian cause, often speaking loudly and using harsh and exaggerated language regarding the Israeli government while frequently expressing sympathy for Hamas, might have found Abbas's approach lacking. Indeed, the absence of any joint statement following Abbas's speech could be seen as an indication of this dissatisfaction.Another interesting point regarding this issue is that Palestinian President Abbas invited Özgür Özel, the leader of Turkey's main opposition party, the Republican People's Party (CHP), to visit Palestine. According to CHP Deputy Chairman Deniz Yücel, "President Abbas expressed his appreciation for CHP's historical support for the Palestinian cause and for Mr. Özgür Özel's efforts to promote the Palestinian cause globally in his capacity as Vice President of the Socialist International." It appears that, like all foreign observers and statesmen, President Abbas is paying attention to CHP's rise since the March 2024 elections. By inviting Özel, whom he regards as a "comrade" from the Socialist International, Abbas seems to be investing in Turkey's future.Meanwhile, following the Constitutional Court's ruling, the parliamentary decision to revoke the parliamentary status of Ş. Can Atalay, a deputy from the Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP), was legally invalid, the opposition parties requested an extraordinary session of the Turkish Grand National Assembly on August 16 to facilitate Atalay's release from prison and allow him to take his oath and assume his duties. Unfortunately, the expected outcome did not materialize. The CHP's proposal for a general debate in the Assembly on the judicial and political crisis surrounding Can Atalay's parliamentary status was rejected by the votes of the AKP and MHP. Thus, unsurprisingly, for Turkey under the AKP-MHP coalition, the Constitution and the Constitutional Court's ruling were blatantly ignored, and Deputy Ş. Can Atalay remains in prison.Nevertheless, the opposition parties, especially the CHP, seem determined not to let this matter go. In an attempt to rectify this injustice, the CHP is preparing a new initiative to reconvene the Parliament, which is currently in recess, with the hope of resolving the Can Atalay issue. However, considering the ruling parties' well-known disregard for the Constitution and the law, it seems unlikely that this initiative by the opposition will yield any results. For a more detailed legal analysis of this matter, please refer to the following article by our colleague A. Rıza Çoban.Another important point related to the Can Atalay issue is the unfortunate incident of violence that occurred during the session on August 16 involving an opposition deputy and a member of the ruling party. During a scuffle that broke out after an AKP deputy, notorious for his "questionable conduct," physically attacked TİP deputy Ahmet Şık with punches and kicks while Şık was presenting his views on the Can Atalay issue from the podium, blood was spilled in the Assembly. This disgraceful attack, which also violated the immunity of the rostrum, undermined the Turkish Grand National Assembly's role as a platform where public issues are freely debated by the "representatives of the nation." There is also a bitter irony in this incident: The Assembly's Board of the Presidency has imposed a "reprimand" disciplinary penalty not only on the attacking deputy but also on the deputy who was assaulted! Below, you will find an analysis by Ömer Faruk Şen, focusing on what this unfortunate incident signifies for the expectations of democratic politics.A comprehensive and expert analysis of the latest developments in the economy can be found in the article by our colleague Caner Gerek.&nbsp;See you in the next issue of Freedom Observer.

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