The reason for the disaster into which Muslim countries have fallen is not some imaginary conspiracy perpetrated by the ever-mysterious “them,” but the Islamic world itself. The only reason for brother killing brother in Muslim lands, a never-ending descent into barbarism and the presence of man hunting snipers, is Muslims themselves.

Yes, the West has always had designs on the Middle East. There have always been Western countries that have nourished radicals for their own interests. There have always been voices saying, “Let us create turmoil so they turn on one another and leave us alone.” They did not conceal themselves; they felt no need to because a single spark in the Middle East was all it took. Yet if such a tiny spark sets the whole Middle East aflame, it is Muslims alone who are responsible.

Which Muslims? Enlightened Muslims who refuse to unite, who cannot strengthen themselves in the face of radicalism and who are invariably passive. These Muslims realize that radicalism is a scourge, but spend their time merely bewailing the fact rather than uniting. If they were to combine together with all the good people in the world — Christians, Jews, Buddhists, atheists and communists without discrimination — and the power of love was to emerge, then neither the Islamic world nor the world as a whole would be in this state. It is illogical to blame others for the turmoil in the Middle East.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is livid at the massacres in Egypt. Turks expected the tragedy we are now seeing from the time the military intervention happened, and it may be because of these events that Turkey has taken such an interest. Turkey has seen four separate coups. It is a country that has hanged its own prime minister and ministers because of these coups. It may be the country that best knows the savagery represented by military interventions against the government and its policies. That is why there was a mass reaction and considerable anger in Turkey against the Egyptian military intervention. The reason for that reaction was not that Turkish people supported Morsi, but that they were opposed to coups.

There has been much mention that “democracy is not [solely] the ballot box” to justify the slaughter in Egypt. That was an argument also used against this Turkish government during the Taksim Gezi Park protests. The fact that these words, from the French Jewish writer Bernard-Henri Levy in 2011, were used at a conference attended by Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, suddenly concentrated minds in that direction. Some newspapers carried headlines reading, “Did Israel plan the events in Egypt?” That is why Erdogan ascribed responsibility for the increasing spread of that idea in Egypt to Israel.

If you ask me, such an accusation should not have been made. That was a gambit that should not have been made in Turkish foreign policy. Israel should not have been accused with such evidence, especially at a time when Israel and Turkey have entered a fine period of peace, when an alliance between the two countries could lead to greater peace and well-being and when radicals are just waiting for the opportunity to blame Israel.

Of course, democracy is not just the ballot box, but the ballot box is a precondition. The government’s subsequent actions consolidate it. When that fails, the solution must again be sought in democracy. Not with tanks.

The Muslim Brotherhood did not strengthen the democracy that emerged from the ballot box during its administration. It did not use it well and build on it. There needed to be a deep-rooted change within the Muslim Brotherhood for it to grow. A society that values art, beauty, music, science and women and that does not discriminate on the grounds of religion, ethnicity or clothing should have emerged. The Brotherhood should have eliminated the threat of radicalism through giant reforms; however, since it failed to do that, it was thought of in the same terms as that threat. But that failure does not justify wanton repression or slaughter, of course. And likewise, it does not justify seeking scapegoats.

Those who thought the threat of fundamentalism could be removed with military intervention were wrong. Fundamentalism is a serious and broad-based problem in the Middle East. Fundamentalists represent a majority among members of the army in Egypt, and they will very likely be in the new administration. And some radical groups angry at the status quo in Egypt will become even more radical. The threat to Israel will therefore not be over. If Israel wants to end the threat, this is not the solution.

As a Muslim who knows Muslims, their current perspective and the region very well, and who also strives against anti-Semitism, I must issue this important reminder: The slaughter in Egypt has begun spreading opposition to Israel in a far stronger manner than ever before. Anti-Israeli voices are now much stronger. Opposition to Israel inevitably leads to anti-Semitism, and this also does grave harm to Muslim minds in need of proper education.

Israeli politicians, the Israeli press and writers should be more careful than ever before. They must not forget that every loose word will nourish the radicals and inevitably harm innocent Jews and Muslims. They must also bear in mind that this will put Muslims like us, who are striving with all our might to eliminate anti-Jewish feeling, in an extraordinarily difficult position. They must try to see that it is not easy to win over a society raised with prejudices against the Jews. They must try and make it easier for us.

It is for good reason that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calls on his staff to avoid commenting on Egypt; this is a very smart and appropriate call and he is to be commended for it. In my opinion, the best policy for Israeli politicians to follow in this sensitive time is to take no sides in Middle Eastern domestic conflicts. It is important for Israel to adopt a moderate and calming policy rather than an aggressive or partisan one. Israel must do its best to try to calm things down and always speak of peace. It must never inadvertently strengthen the radicals’ hand.

And what of Turkey? Turkey must definitely facilitate the improving of relations with Israel. The voices emerging from Turkey at this stage are highly important. We must not forget that every angry voice may cause damage, even further increasing anti-Semitism in the Arab world. A peaceable Turkey that calms matters down and extends the hand of friendship to Israel would be much better.

Aylin Kocaman is a commentator on Turkish TV, a columnist for Asharq Al-Awsat, Al Ahram Weekly and Gulf Daily News, and a peace activist.