Erdogan to Obama: Israel risks losing its best friend in Middle East

i almost get for Erdogan. He tries to help the Gazan people, even the Dutch government is scare to do that.

Erdogan's anger is understandable. He gambled and lost. Losing the "friendship" of such unreliable "friend" is no loss. Anyway, selling drones to Turkey, which they can use effectively against the Kurds is hardly moral. Israel has now a chance to even that out.

Like many Belgian friends, I cancelled my holiday plans in Turkey next September further to Turkey's increasingly provocative attitude. It's quite clear that Erdogan's Turkey is becoming a second Iran, albeit softer version. Malta, Sicily and Cyprus seem better holiday alternatives now.

And unfortunately it is pretty obvious right now which side they have chosen. B"H

soon or late YOU will loose friends. Is this all, because UE does not wish you as a member of their community?? They have already 55 millions muslims, and they are already in deep trouble with islam, do you really think they need another 30 millions of fanatics like you? Answer is: NO. be so kind to keep your "friendship" for your beloved hanyeh and ahmadi, and respect the other 40 millions turcs who wish to live freely and not under islamists rules.

As we have seen throughout history diplomats have their own language to appease the masses. What really matters is what happens behind the scenes. Turkish PM Endogan now has the world stage and his fifteen minutes of fame. I doubt if anything will drastically change between Turkey and Israel because of Turkey fear of Iran and the Kurds. It's all grandstanding!

Have we forgotten how the Turks marched 1.5 million Armenians to death....... How the Turks are oppressing the Kurds and denying them Statehood.......

Turkey should be held responsible, although, it is quite unfortunate that Israel does not have much friend to support him, apart form USA. Some of these European countries are just waste to Israel, because, one may argue that the Arabs and Muslims have intimidated the European counries into submission, and that made them to turn against Israel in any incident that involved Israel and any Middle Eastern country. God bless America for being with Israel in this time of persecution, and God bless Israel. Some of these Arabs and Muslims countries want everything on the plater of gold. They are now hijiking UN at the expense of Israel. Thus, having examined the Flotilla incident, I am of the view that Israel was right in intercepting or preventing the ship from reaching Gaza. Terrorism is always in the minds of some of these Arabs and Muslims, and that has to stop.

Treat your friends with contempt and scorn and be consistent in making enemies out of friends.

So it was really a lovers' spat after all! No doubt the odd-couple will kiss and make up!

Turkey's only friends are the ones that look like it : Syria, Iran Hezbollah and Hamas. Ataturk's state is dead and today's Turkey is neither a friend of Israel nor an acceptable candidate for EU-adhesion.

Power is radicals in Turkey right now. It ll change. . we are friends and everything will be ok. we love jews . we should calm !

Turkey acted stupidly, Turkey's actions amounts to abbeting and supporting a crime committed with intent. I said this because if Turkey had not instigated its nationals to aboard a ship to Gaza, this problem could not have happened. Erdogan, the Turkish Prime Minister thinks that he can do anything he likes, he condemns Israel in everything as if Israel is a province or a local council in Turkey. Erdogan has not shown any respect to Israel, Erdogan therefore is responsible for this action. Can a citizen or national of another country break Turkey's law and go free? the answer is no. Erdogan therefore acted in an irresponsible manner as a Prime Minister. Again, how did Turkey managed to be a NATO member? is Turkey in NATO to intimidate Israel? by saying listen if you attack Turkey the NATO nations will come after you. No, Turkey is wrong in thinking that by being a NATO member that Turkey will subject Israel into rubbish. NATO is Israel, and i think Israel is NATO even though Israel is not an official member of NATO. Turkey must learn a lesson, and Turkey must show respect to Israel and Turkey must show respect to Israel as a sovereign state.

Ergodan should be concerned about Turkeys image and all of the atrocities it has undertaken throughout its history. If this is what breaks a friendship, there wasn't one to begin with. Once Ergodan sided with Ahmadinejad and Assad, it was only a matter of time until the friendship ended. Ergodan had to prove to the "little man and his lover" that he was a tough Muslim.

I don't think Israel needs "strategic ties" with Turkey. I think, that Israel should have officially recognized the genocide of Armenians long ago, and not because of deterioration in relations between Israel and Turkey under Islamist pro-Hamas government, but because such recognition would be a just thing. Denying Armenian genocide is like denying Holocaust.

with this barbarian pirate act, israel is losing his one and only supporter in the region, how stupid is that? he told that not the jewish people or the citizents of israel should be blaimed for that, is he now a antisemit? the truth antisemit people live in israel cause the palestinien people are semit but the politics in israel is racism, there was a time palestinien and jewish people were like brothers and sisters, and the only one good politician in israel was murdered by israeli racists, RABIN when will israel learn to make peace after such a suffering in the past ? the holocoust survivers have learned to make peace after the shit they have seen but most of the new generation are stupid, and avigdor lieberman and netanjahu are bad as hell, don t belive their lies !!!

it's a crime of the israeli goverment but you feel defensive in every mistake your goverment do.we turks always are in a good relationship with jewish people in israel or around the world and will be,but not with zionist israeli goverment which always ready to kill every moving thing.

Erdogan forgets who has more to lose .

Maybe he is looking for new friends, such as Ahmadinejad and Nasrallah.

Should we blame Israel for the blockades of the one million people city of Gaza , or blame the Turks those who feel they been betrayed by the European who had accepted Romania to their union and refused them after years of desperate attempts to be in the Europeans union , or the disparate Arabs with lives that is leading them to no where , or the Israel and their Rambo style commandos who could not wait to jump on the ships even in international water .

Turk - Israel relations could be in very good position. Because of facist leaders, now we are nearly fight. At this point lets stop blaming ourselves. And try to rebuild friendship again.

Erdogan is a shrewd political player. As Turkey has been snubbed by France, Germany and others in its attempt to join the EU, he has taken the Ottoman Turk's historical influence in the Middle East to carve out a new role of influence through trade and diplomacy, all at Israel's expense by using the region's enmity toward Israel as unifying theme. Beware this cynical player, for he brings bad tidings to all in his efforts to create a new power niche for himself in alliance with Iran and Syria. Israel can and should become defenders of Armenian historical suffering from WWI and recent treatment of the Kurds as a response back to Erdogan's self-righteous, self-serving and cynical game.

Let's hope that the Turkish Army over throws their government.

Realy ? Is that what they call best ? We do not share the same value.

For the U.S. political establishment, the value of a U.S. citizen seems to depend mostly on the question, whether he/she is "pro-Israeli policies" or "anti-Israeli policies"..... Bad luck, the guy just made the wrong choice.

Would a friend have encouraged its Turkish Flotilla Fanatics to challenge Israel in the first place? When did Turkey last act as a friend to Israel? If Turkey really is a friend it should start acting like one again!

I think the international community seems to be biased, as their judgment against Israel appears hypocritical in nature, because the main issue is not whether international law was violated, but whether actually there was any violation of international law by the Israeli government. The essence of this question is that no country would love to permit or authorise its national to violate another country's territory, but right now the irony is the case: in this case, Turkey and its supporting countries are the violators of the international law. Because, as it stand, Gaza is still under Israel's control and international community should not and must not undermine Israel's control over Gaza, even though, Israel has pulled out of Gaza in 2005, Gaza is not yet a State internationally recognised. Again, Turkey made a mistake for indirectly or directly taking part in such mission, because, such support seems to be a violation of Israel's sovereignty. Turkey must remember that the Kurdastines are demanding for a self-government which has not been granted either by Turkish government or by the international community. Thus, Turkey still regards the Kurds or Kurdastines as its citizens. What of the killing of the Armenians popularly known as the Armenian genocide? Has it been forgotten by the Turkish government and the international community. Turkey must think twice before it support militants generated mission like the 'Flotilla' Mission.

Is a sidenote to this unnecessary confrontation the creation of a NATO dilemma? As in, what will the U.S. do if a fellow NATO member squares off with the longtime ally of the U.S.? If the U.S. sides with Israel, then Erdogan has his excuse to pull out of NATO and continue turning Turkey's face to the East.

Originally, the "siege" policy was motivated as the means to make the Gaza population unhappy with Hamas rule and help them overthrow it. It didn't work, and actually should not have been expected to work because historically, Arab masses do not overthrow rulers, Arab militaries do that, but in Gaza Hamas IS the military. The policy failed to achieve its goal, but was continued nevertheless under changing explanations (today it is the Shalit excuse). How much damage can a pointless, visibly failed policy cause? 1. For the present "flotilla" incident, read the various articles, and consider in addition that the UN may become more inclined to send the Goldstone Report to the Hague. Also, the governing Islamic party in Turkey might have found the excuse to break relations with Israel, which it avoided doing for fear of the Turkish military. The Turkish military might now be convinced that this has to be done. 2. Operation Cast Lead (late 2008) was caused by the pointless "siege" policy. Hamas offered to continue the then prevailing cease fire provided that Israel lifts the siege. Israel refused. Result: Abbas had to stop peace negotiations with Israel. Olmert said he was very close to a deal with the PA, but then Cast Lead "happened". No, idiot, it didn't just happen, Olmert preferred the "siege" over a peace deal. Such an incredible choice should go into the history books!

I think the international community seems to be biased, as their judgment against Israel appears hypocritical in nature, because the main issue is not whether international law was violated, but whether actually there was any violation of international law by the Israeli government. The essence of this question is that no country would love to permit or authorise its national to violate another country's territory, but right now the irony is the case: in this case, Turkey and its supporting countries are the violators of the international law. Because, as it stand, Gaza is still under Israel's control and international community should not and must not undermine Israel's control over Gaza, even though, Israel has pulled out of Gaza in 2005, Gaza is not yet a State internationally recognised. Again, Turkey made a mistake for indirectly or directly taking part in such mission, because, such support seems to be a violation of Israel's sovereignty. Turkey must remember that the Kurdastines are demanding for a self-government which has not been granted either by Turkish government or by the international community. Thus, Turkey still regards the Kurds or Kurdastines as its citizens. What of the killing of the Armenians popularly known as the Armenian genocide? Has it been forgotten by the Turkish government and the international community. Turkey must think twice before it support militants generated mission like the 'Flotilla' Mission.

in the region and most of the world for that matter - losing Turkey would be a severe blow - Israelis need to look within and see what monsters we've become.

Turkey is one of our best friends. It is to laugh. with friends like that who needs enemies. Turkey can take a hike. we have learned from our poast friendship with Turkey that they clearly cannot be trusted

Erdogan is double faced and dishonest. Ask the Kurds and the Armenians what Turkey did and are doing to them. Free Kurdistan! Enough of the Ottman empire!

Erdogan, what you should do is: 1. Cut off all ties with Israel. 2. Cut off all ties with the USA. 3. Tell Obama and the UN that if Israel is not punished for committing an international crime and punished to the full extent of the law, Turkey will join forces with Iran, Syria, Hisbollah and all militant groups to form a coalition and a treaty where anytime that any of the coalition members are attacked including the Gaza or the West Bank, this coalition will open a war against Israel. It is time for you and the rest ofd the Arab to stop all of this walking on egg shels when it comes to Israel and finally doing something to stop Israel's crimes.

ABSOLUTLY CORRECT WHAT ERDOGAN SAYS. MR OBAMA SHOULD NOT BLIND-DEFENT ISRAEL. ISRAEL HAS ALSO RIGHTS BUT NO RIGHT TO KILL PEOPLE WHEREVER THEY WANT. THEY DO NOT LIVE ALONE ON EARTH.

newsflash: highest roman-catolic bishop of turkey killd today at his home. one an imagine that erdogan is going to try to blame israel and idf for it....

Had been in the position, say in the days of the Yishuv, and you had a ship trying to dock off the coast of Palestine, delivering humanitarian aid to the beseiged Jews of the coastal plain. And a British ship ordered them out of the waters and return to their home port .When the zionist relief ship would not heed the order and they wer invaded by armed Brits who killed 9 Jews and wounded over a dozen, you can imagine the outcry and call for retribution that would arise from the ADL, AJC, ZOA and the rest of it. Can you imagine it? But in this case the gasbag justifies the actions and is trying to convince the world they wee really sucide Al Queda bombers ready to sail into Ashdod and blow up the city. Talk about the nature of lying.

With [so called]friends like Erdogan, who needs needs [real] enemies? Just another hypocrite! Would HE tolerate a terrorist enclave on HIS borders, and supply them with ANY aid, when that enclave's sworn mission is to DESTROY him and his people?

If there was no blockade of Gazza, if Operation Cast Lead did not cause the death of 1400 Gazans, Turkey's relations with Israel would remain the same as it was in 2003, most likely even improved. I think instead of judging Turkey, Israelis must stop and take a look at their government's actions with objective eyes. Netanyahu government harms Israel's relations with its friends. Israelis must replace this administration with a more pro-peace government at the first opportunity

As an American it hurts, insults, and infuriates me that Israeli military goons have managed to murder another American citizen. My country's government can no longer tolerate this or it will lose credibility with its own citizens. Losing Turkey's friendship is a very serious matter for Israel. Losing America's friendship will be a disaster.

The only true friends Erdogan needs are the terrorists on board the Marma Peace ship

Ask Erdogan. He has made a pact with terrorist organizations and send them over to Israel for his political gain.

as they say , It is better to have a clever enemy than a foolish friend....!

Friends, much less best friends, do not support missions by known supporters of terrorism to purposely incite a violent incident. Friends also wait until the evidence is in before they accuse their so-called friends of a massacre. Turks seem to be going back to their old ways (see Armenians, Kurds)

we are assisting the Islamisation of the west free world. Not a country dare to tell the truth .It smell oil and terror.

becomes best friends with the ones who seek the destruction of Israel...hmm..makes sense?!?

An enemy in disguise. A shameful statement from Erdogan. A friendship is to be proven by deeds not empty words!

i am just wondering, if this is how Turkey treats its friends, how does it treat it enemies. Oh wait, the Armenians... right...

"Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has told U.S. President Barack Obama that Israel is on the verge of losing its best friend in the Middle East..." Maybe Erdogan should focus on the actual interests(militarily, economically) of Turkey and not on religion. The AK party isn't a Kemalist political force, it's islamic.

Arabs during WWI and preceding years, decades, joined forces and cooperated with the victors of WWI and raped, tortured and massacred Ottoman Turkish (brothers in Islam) subjects and forced them out of their home and country to destroy Ottoman (Khalif in Islam) empire. Now they are looking up to Turks again to resolve their problems with Israel. Arabs made their choices freely and consciously. They have to deal with the consequences of the choices they made. Today Arabs are in need of Turks, tomorrow they will not hesitate to stab Turks on their back. History shows Arabs did that time and again to Turks. If Turks learned their lesson at all, they should stay out of Arabs' problems, otherwise Turks will get in trouble again

The biggest tragedy of the Israeli Arab conflict is that the real problem of the Near East, the original Eastern Question has been sidelined. Turkey is THE problem in the Near East and is being delayed because of this present conflict. All effort must be made to resolve the Israeli/Arab conflict so that we can all turn our attention to the crimes of the Turks; the freedom of the Kurds, the Freedom of Cyprus and the accountability of the Turks in the murder of millions of Christians and the continued of the destruction of Christianity in Asia Minor. These are the issues that have been festering and MUST be addressed.

Unlike the Israeli leadership these days....

Erdogan is a friend of Ahmadinejad and Omar Bashir

Israel is either changing or being left alone at the stage of the world.. Israel see right position and discuss their future in this region.. All People are equal over every area on the earth. she should not trust their nuclear weapon.

Erdogan perpetrated this whole thing. He set up the Israelis to have to fire on a Turkish vessel even though they offered to let the aid cargo through following an inspection. With a friend like this, Israel needs no enemies. Turkey has not been Israel's friend or the US's friend for quite a few years now. Let them go wallow in their Islamist poverty and ignorance and when they decide to rejoin the civilized, modern world, perhaps they can ask to be our friends again.

Let them get help from Hamas. With friends like these, who needs enemies?

The Turks lost their empire long ago. Israel doesn't need Turkey's friendship. Turkey, however, would benefit enormously from Israel's. I mean - who is buying whose drones?

With friends like this who needs enemies?

WOW! ALL MY LIFE I'VE BEEN SEARCHING FOR A BEST FRIEND....THANK YOU EROGAN-t TODAY I STOP LOOKING!!!!!

Israel has no friends in the middle east - not since the Islamists began overthrowing their secular constitution in 2003. This incident was a set up by Turkey, pure and simple, because they want street creds in the eyes of Iran.

This is making me laughing. His words are nothing worth. Israel be allert!

I would like to suggest to every reader to boycott all Israel's products as this is the best way to retaliate peacefully.

Unfortunately it has been proven that the Obama administration is too weak to deal with Israel.

Turkey is heading towards Islamism ..... bad news for Turks and everybody else