How to accept an apology?

The Mavi Marmara episode was an unnecessary incident and I do not believe that anyone predicted things would end the way they did. I am confident that if both sides had known the result ahead of time, they would have striven to handle things in an entirely different manner. During past three years of tension, when I was asked whether I thought an apology was necessary, I always told that I cannot decide on behalf of the people of Israel, and that it was entirely up to them and their leaders to decide how to compensate. I, for one, do not place preconditions on an apology as it should be sincere, and cannot be done under compulsion. Consequently, Israel chose to apologize for her operational mistakes and promised to pay compensation to the families of those who died because she wants to put this regrettable incident behind her and continue with the long-established frienship, especially considering the instability in the region. These are surely momentous times in diplomacy. On the other hand, apology is an honorable, graceful act, and thus it can never be degrading, humiliating or aggrieving. However we should expect that some circles will attempt to make news just for provocation and attempt to ruin or interrupt this process of healing diplomatic ties. Nevertheless, we hear the voices of negative people who want to use this apology as a tool for propaganda to incite anger. It is outrageous to use inflammatory language, and it is simply a humiliation upon those hateful voices for not knowing how to graciously appreciate an apology. I also do not approve the billboards that the Ankara municipality has put up to thank Prime Minister Erdogan for allegedly compelling Israel to apologize. I do not think that either putting up such ads nor their gloating tone is right. This is not the way to accept an apology. If one has apologized, then you must accept it right away. If someone apologizes, they are not to be dishonored. Someone who apologizes should be treated kindly, and gracious behavior should be shown. The kind of behavior that shows your maturity, quality and worth. There is no place for such gloating in our tradition. So I would like to turn to my fellow Turks and criticize these voices that speak about this as though we made them cave in and apologize. It is absolutely wrong to attempt any kind of humiliation out of this. If this kind of humiliating rhetoric is used, then no friendship would be left. Besides if we look at things through the prism of rage and allow ourselves to maintain grudges, no one could ever be friendly with anyone else. What happened in the past stays in the past; if one does not evaluate things with this mentality, no country could ever be friends with any other. Loveless people are free to issue their comments, however they only reflect their inner world by expressing their hostility and by looking at everything in a negative manner rather than thinking with wisdom and compassion. Sinem Tezyapar is a political analyst. https://twitter.com/SinemTezyapar The views expressed by the author do not necessarily represent or reflect the editorial policy of Arabstoday.