Aluf Benn / Turkey can take credit for ending Israel's blockade of Gaza
It is now clear, even to Israel's leaders, that the Turkish flotilla - despite activists' deaths and not having actually reached Gaza - accelerated policy change in Gaza.
By Aluf Benn Tags: Israel news Turkey Gaza flotillaTurkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan can claim a big check mark for himself, despite the Turkish flotilla not having reached Gaza and nine activists aboard the Mavi Marmara ship having been killed during the raid in May. Erdogan achieved his goal: He collapsed the Israeli siege on "Hamastan." The cabinet announcement on Sunday put an end to the three-year-old civilian blockade on Gaza, initiated when Hamas took power.
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Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan. |
| Photo by: Reuters |
The second person to take credit for Israel easing the siege on Gaza is U.S. President Barack Obama. The White House made an announcement praising Israel's new policy toward Gaza, stressing that Israel responded "to the calls of many in the international community" – or, in less diplomatic language, Israel succumbed to the unbearable pressure and preferred to open the crossings and allow the transfer of civilian goods and building materials rather than absorb additional condemnation or worse.
Netanyahu must now explain why he waited until Israel became entangled in the flotilla affair instead of announcing an ease on the blockade several weeks ago. Netanyahu has an explanation, which he will likely offer the Turkel committee probing Israel's actions in the raid: Israel undertook a new examination of the blockade before the flotilla set sail and he supported the policy approved on Sunday from the outset.
Netanyahu said during a hearing that took place before the flotilla that there must be a change in Israel's Gaza policy, and instead of having a list of goods allowed into the strip, which has existed until now, there must be a list of what is forbidden. Furthermore, Netanyahu told the hearing that barring toys and other civilian goods into Gaza does not pressure Hamas, but rather erodes Israel's interests, namely, preventing arms smuggling into the territory and holding the moral high ground.
Netanyahu also estimated that the blockade does not help abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, as it creates a moral asymmetry: Hamas can use the suffering caused by the siege to justify Shalit's ongoing captivity and lack of visitation. Shalit's release depends on other factors.
In life, however, it's not enough to be right or to appraise a situation correctly. Timing is equally important. Israel's political echelon did not rush to change its Gaza policy, nor did it ever assume that the flotilla raid would end with the deaths of nine Turks. The hearings were conducted slowly, the siege continued and now it is clear, even at to Israel's leaders, that the Turkish flotilla accelerated the decision to change policy in Gaza.
Now Israel awaits future flotillas aimed at breaking the blockade and hopes that easing the siege will grant it diplomatic coverage to stop them. But even if the most positive scenario takes place, the government has lost points and Netanyahu comes off as a leader who makes decisions only under enormous pressure and after paying a heavy political price.
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of Mr. Erdogan was suceeded.
its a pity that the supporters of erdogan do not call him out on kurdish independence and the pkk wher e" they will drown in their own blood " strangely erdogan does not see this in the case of hamas , hisbollah. ihh and iran ????
Israel goverment as a Donkey needs always world + USA enormous pressure and after paying a heavy political price as usual !! PS;the reason of the blockade is GILAD & now ??
The inventors of the Gaza flotilla deserve the Nobel Prize for Peace
Erdogan knows something which only Nasrallah also knows. It is possible to move Israel but it cannot be done with words. It takes action. Now, if Obama can take a lesson from this, maybe he can revisit the settlement expansion issue and move Israel toward a real peace.
Turkey scored a cheap shot. Gaza got themselves where they are. That's the choice they made. Countries deserve what they get when they ellect criminals as a government. A cheap shot that puts them o the same side as Ahmadinejad? Please!
A lot of propaganda is going on since this announcement by Israel. From the comments it appears that most are sold out to this announcement. All Israel is doing is easing transport of some goods, for a while, but their real motive is to continue siege on innocent people. I am surprised that people cannot think beyond these political moves. It is also important to see how the media is influenced/favor Israel – just a simple announcement and it is front page and the commentaries suggest that the siege on innocent is over, while they know it is not true. One thing is becoming clear, however, that like Erdogan said, the enemy is the Israeli gov’t. this government is doing more harm to its people, Palestinians, its relation with the US.
Arab regimes, mostly ruthless inside and obedient to the US, encourage arrogance and endless Paelstinian and Arab concessions. Israel and the US are hopeful to impose the worst of solutions by making facts on the ground. Nobody would be pressured towards peace when countries like Egypt governed by a God-like dictator help Israel's seige on gasa. Or when the so-called PA president agrees to anything Israel wants as long as he and his entourage have free access to the assistance money. This situation is unique in history. But the illusion of durability make the price to pay later unbearable. These regimes are weak with no future and are a liability rather than asset. They are interested in staying in power and should cease to exist.
Arab regimes, mostly ruthless inside and obedient to the US, encourage arrogance and endless Paelstinian and Arab concessions. Israel and the US are hopeful to impose the worst of solutions by making facts on the ground. Nobody would be pressured towards peace when countries like Egypt governed by a God-like dictator help Israel's seige on gasa. Or when the so-called PA president agrees to anything Israel wants as long as he and his entourage have free access to the assistance money. This situation is unique in history. But the illusion of durability make the price to pay later unbearable. These regimes are weak with no future and are a liability rather than asset. They are interested in staying in power and should cease to exist.
What credit ? Every time Erdogan opens his mouth , it comes it all comes out out " I'm a half brain idiot ". . In the west any intelligent person knows that whatever comes out of his mouth is just propaganda for the Islamic world . Lets face it he and his mates from Iran and Syria are hypocritical liars, and basically traitors to the people of their country for deliberately misinforming them with the truth.
All the credit to Erdogan he did what no other leader had the guts to do: stand up firm against Israel and its terror policies. What level of insanity, 9 people had to die for Israel to realize the obvious: the siege had to end. Does this mean Hamas will stop its resistance campaign? No, of course not. The occupation has not ended, has it?
It would be a mistake to interpret this as Turkey's take away from this tragedy. Turkey and its people would not need that kind of credit. You (the author) should understand that the majority of Turkish people is only interested in seeing some sort of an improvement in the conditions of Gazans, nothing more. Nonetheless, it should not surprise you (or me) to see certain individuals or small groups trying to take advantage of the situation, e.g. claiming undeserved credits. The world is not that stupid, they'll know when a credit is due. Besides, the events surrounding Gaza is a little more serious than who deserves a credit today - there is a lot of room for making things better. If you start to distribute credits that fast, people will stop and say we've done enough. I suppose Israeli people should raise serious questions about their leaders' vision (or lack thereof) on Gaza. I don't think Israelis need anybody's advice to tell right from wrong and yet they seem to lack the courage to form their own opinion - I suppose the fear pumped up by their leaders is blocking the way.. Sad...
"the majority of Turkish people is interested to see ...improvement in the conditions of Gazans". Isn't the majority of Turkish people interested to see an improvement in the conditions of Kurds? How could you ignore the atrocities that your government did and still does in your name (even last week) to the minority in your own country? Or is it easier to preach to others?
When Hamas begins to put more weapons in gaza and starts killing more Israelis then the world will understand that it is the Gazeans who lost. Turkey is helping Iran become Nuclear and Turkey is helping bring Nuclear Iran and terrorism to all the children of the world
Even by Zionists and anti-Islamists like me because it was wrong and served no positive purpose for Israel whatsoever. All it did was damage Israel's image to what I pray is not a point of no return. Israel virtually handed the radicals a victory on a silver platter by its vicious retribution on all Gazans for electing Hamas. For this and the killing of 9 Turkish citizens Bibi must go.
members after their rigged election. You didn't scream when Israeli children were rocketed by Hamas in Gaza. The world was deceived and the world will pay for Turkey's action of supporting Terrorists and a nuclear Iran
About time somebody stood up to your thuggish Israeli government. I and my friends in Australia cheer every time someone serves it up to you. You reap what you sow.
Does any serious person really believe that Erdogan cares about Gaza? The sole purpose of the Turkish flotilla was to create an an anti-Israel incident that would boost Erdogan's and the AKP's popularity at the expense of domestic political rivals. Any Israeli attempt to compromise on Gazan aid before the flotilla was doomed to failure. After all, Erdogan studiously ignored all Israeli offers to transport any non-military supplies to Gaza through Ashdod or Port Said.
Regardless of Erdogan's motives success is the name of the game. Maybe Internal and International rivals should pay heed and learn.
...of the article: Why did Netanyahu wait to change its policy, and wouldn't Israel have been better off changing the policy before such a damaging escalation?
That's the deconstructionist view, right? That's how it works, right? Mr. Benn? Yes?
Apparently incidents of the IDF killing and maiming on a lesser scale - but a much more consistent one - isn't quite as problematic for the international community.
Will Israel take the credit for murdering 9 Turks?
and terrorist to the naive west. Shame on Turkey
When is the blockade going to end. I keep reading these articles in Haaretz about the lifting or easing of the blockade. but nothing has changed at the crossings. Yesterday, one was open and there is yet no increase in the flow of goods. You all must believe your own propaganda without going and REPORTING on anything you see. When was the last time one of you actually saw a Gaza border crossing?
Hamas. The Turkish government loves Iran and loves Hamas. Hamas and Iran will destroy the people of Gaza not Israel
not the lifting of the siege. The number of trucks allowed into Gaza has been increased from 100 to 130 trucks per day still only a quarter of what the UN says is required. I suppose the lifting of the siege as is being roundly announced by Israel's media is dependent on the status of the crossing at Rafah. Whether that re-opens under the UN or EU's control and without interference from Egypt. I think if the desalination plant, the electricity turbines and the sewage plant all gain access we can say the siege is over. Until then this is just a holding operation until Planet Earth finds something else to concentrate on. Interestingly after the cancellation of contracts by Erdogan worth Billions of dollars with Israel, there are desperate attempts to massage his ego by saying he has won and he can claim credit for his victory against Israel. Israel must be desperate for the trade to actually announce to the world that they have lost. When in effect nothing has changed other than a desperate spin to prevent further flotillas running the blockade. Interesting times await us I feel.
When, was the last time you were at a Gaza border crossing mark. Gotta love people talking out of their asses.
You guys are too funny. I wish you grow up and stop labelling everyone to hide your own shortcomings.