Netanyahu to Clinton: Israel won't apologize to Turkey for Gaza flotilla raid
PM Netanyahu informs U.S. Secretary of State Clinton that Israel will not accept an outline for restoring relationship with Turkey.
By Barak Ravid Tags: Benjamin Netanyahu Israel Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan Gaza flotillaPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has informed U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that Israel will not apologize for the 2010 Gaza flotilla raid in which nine Turkish pro-Palestinian activists died.
Speaking with Clinton via telephone on Tuesday, Netanayhu said that Israel does not intend to adopt an outline to restore its relationship with Turkey.
An official in Jerusalem said that Netanyahu told Clinton that Israel does not oppose the publication of the report of the Palmer Committee, which investigated the events surrounding the flotilla, but that the date of the report's release depends on UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
The official added that the head of the UN investigatory committee, former New Zealand prime minister Jeffrey Palmer, will present the report to Ban Ki-moon next Monday and that the UN chief will release the report to the public the following day.
On Tuesday, deputy prime minister Moshe Ya'alon referred to the possibility of an Israeli apology while speaking at a Likud founders conference.
"God forbid we apologize," Ya'alon said. "National pride is not just something people say on the street but it has strategic significance. If Erdogan goes around afterwards and says that he brought us to our knees, he will appear as a regional leader in the Middle East. He won't leave it alone, even after we apologize."
Ya'alon noted that the Palmer Committee had completed its work and had ruled in favor of Israel in regards to the legality of the naval blockade of the Gaza Strip.
"The Turks are not ready to accept this," Ya'alon said. "But the relationship had deteriorated even before [the flotilla raid]. This is their policy, this is what they wanted, shame on them. So I said the Palmer Report needs to be published and I hope it will be published. Afterwards, we will meet [with the Turks]."
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. |
| Photo by: Reuters |
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turkey started the fight by sending terrorist to break a legal blockade.
Israel will never apologies on the contrary it will only boost its resolution to take down the Hamas institution. And if Israel wises up it should send a rose to Assad and turn him into an Israeli special agent! Am I wrong? Well let see what happens to Assad!
Same day. In Turkey terrorists killed 7 soldier and Israel said we wont apologize. Israel wants to surround Turkey from in and out. Helps PKK and other terrorist gorups. You should be proud of your agency.
It is sometime the decent thing to do, especially when civilians are killed. Is this zionist policies?
ABSOLUTELY NO! Israel should not apologise! Clinton's request is utterly ridiculous! It's the same as asking the US to apologise for Bin Laden's death! What audacity! Stand your ground Israel!
Typical macho swagger. Bibi is nothing more than a school yard bully. Go ahead, make more enemies to satisfy your ego. The American people are fed up with your arrogance.
why you feedup from Israel, you did not study your lesson well Frank!
Jews were humiliated for millenia and an apology, even an insincere one, would have been considered no problem at all. We are now in a new era, and different Jewish groups adopted different modes of behavior. There were the majority pragmatists, but the Revisionists put great emphasis on national honor, according to the Jabotinsky teaching of "Hadar" (Honor). Arlozorov was assassinated (1933) because he dared to negotiate a deal with Nazi Germany to allow Jews and their property out, thus "stained national honor". M. Begin threatened a civil war when Israel agreed to the Reparation Agreement with post-war Germany. Honor! With the refusal to apologize to Turkey, thus giving up a major achievement of Israeli diplomacy which already David Ben-Gurion pursued, we come back to this issue which afflicts "true" Likudniks. The recent former Russians are of course not ideologues, just Brute Soviets. They object to apologizing in principle, lest you appear weak. Just to address the basic issue: Israel killed 9 Turks by using inappropriate means of control. This requires an apology, and even compensation.
Or perhaps Obama should appolagise to Al-Qeida for killing OBL. Erdogan you are a incubator for terror and sauvage behavior and this a double edged sword which is going to kill you in the end.
Israel shouldn't apologize to Turkey. Israeli soldiers just defending themselves... They found what they're looking for.
It will go like this: Palmer will say (correctly) that Israel filled in all the required paperwork and made all the required announcements when it instigated that blockade, and Israel will seize upon that and claim this means the blockade was "legal". It will mean no such thing. After all, a building inspector can declare that I have built my house to all the required standards; that it is, indeed, a beautifully-built house. But that can't make my house "legal" if I built it in my neighbour's backyard.....
The problem is not Jews can't " reside in certain villages, towns" in their "homeland" but the fact Jews are denying Palestinians THE SAME RIGHT within their HOMELAND. You are a scary dude to see things so twisted. May God open your eyes and mind. such del.
Now although I'm glad Israel did not give in to Erdogan, by dragging their feet they gave Erdogan already what he wanted, the decision came way too late to anyway
Erdogan has already positioned himself as a leader worthy of little more than ridicule. His childish demand of Israel to apologise for an act that has been endorsed as completely legal by an international commission, is little short of pathetic. Even more so in light of his blindness to the crimes being perpetrated against civilians under his nose in Syria, by his friend Bashar. (Erdogan's term, by the way). Where are the Turkish people? Are they oblivious to the fact that this man is about to pour 100 years of Turkish accomplishment and achievement down the fundamentalist drain? Tehran 1979. Ankara 20__ . Fill in the blanks.
Who in their right mind can EVER make the assertion that the Americans take the anti Israeli position ever?!?!? Thats the stupidest thing Ive ever heard, considering the US vetoed every single resolution slightly perceived as being anti israeli, including the fact that they are about to veto the palestinian statehood initiative. How people can accuse America as being anti Israel is beyond me..
No apology, No friendship, turkey is not an Arab country.. Israel will regret it
Stay the course. Don't let any muslim nation to dictate anything to our country. The Bible says a murderer is on his way to hell, let turkey find it's way
and they have rearely ever apologised for any of its murderous actions. Always excuses. look at the blowing up of the KDHotel, Deir Yassin, Kfar Kassem, the Semiramis Hotel and on and on...They are apolised TO, but they never apologise.
Erdogan got what he deserved, but perhaps we would have proposed a solution that is acceptable for the Turcs without us appearing as weak. This is the problem when one becomes strong, one stops thinking with our head and more with our muscles. It requires less creativity efforts. Somewhere it is a pity. Whatever, it's done ! Eddogan will go on putting pressure on us while becoming more powerful every day. You will see that Turkey will go to make some order in Syria very soon.
Turkey will welcome you as an independent state and assist you. Thanks to Bibi, for giving that motivation.
why wont you sit down, relax, and decide what are you once and for all? by the way, your friends from turkey (or are you dutch? confusing) dont think the same as you. alot of market vendors loose money because of no israeli tourism. there was an article in channel 2, they interviewed turk vendors who learnet to speak nice hebrew (because once there were tons of israelis coming to visit) and said they miss the israelis, "a german comes he buys one shirt. israeli? he must take five". your turk friends in the market thank you and erdogan for hurting their pockets.
national pride? we all know turks are in the right here. there is a political aspect to it ofcourse but more importantly it is about human decency, it is about letting those victims rest in peace and for their families to be able to move on. all my respect goes to turks especially the families of the victims. may justice be served. people who refuse to acknowldege their wrongdoings are lost morally. i can accept this behaviour from children. they are young and need to learn right from wrong and you punish & teach them the righteful ways. however, when it is adults who behave in such manner, there is only contempt to feel....
How much can Israel be made to bow her head and to who ???? It is time to tell O'bama to get lost and start minding the buisness of the US which is currently in the toiet.
Are you comparing Bin Laden to innocent activitsts? Bin Laden killed thousands. How many did these activists kill? Don't let pride get in the way of common sense.
Sadly and sorry to say Norman but you are right; the US is in the toilet and we're about to be flushed.
KOL A KAVOD!!!
If Israel do not apologize,will not reimburse,the only loser will be Israel and foldind results...
After all, Israel has friends to burn. So why should it matter to Israel if it kisses off Turkey? After all, there are sooooo many other would-be suitors waiting in the wings, right.....
Stop courting a tyrant state who has no respect to international law.
These alleged citizens brutally attacked Israel soldiers clearly with the intent to kill them, while they were enforcing a blockade design to prevent a regime from further attacking it's citizens with 1000's of rockets and the illegal kidnapping of it's people..now apologize???LoL
Think about it.
It is way past time for the civilized world to recognize Turkeys genocide of the Armenians and condemn their attempt to massacre the innocent Kurds
Or do you think it makes it alright for Israel to kill and torture civilians.Lets not forget how Israel stole from the passengers and doctored evidence ,
"If Erdogan goes around afterwards and says that he brought us to our knees" Mr. Yalon is right. Erdogan doesn't care about anything but his popularity in Turkey. If Israel apologizes, then Erdogan will abuse this and he will say that he brought Israel to his knees. Since the first day he became leading party in Turkey, he is using external political issues as a tool for his own popularity inside Turkey.
led a trade delegation to Israel to further economic and trade ties with Israel? Of course that was before Israel when manic on its expansionist plans and then later killed 9 Turks to teach all of Turkey a lesson.
led a trade delegation to Israel to further economic relations? Of course that was before the killing of 9 of his citizens by the israel military.
Dude, i care about my 9 Turkish brothers killed in international waters. I don't care if they were ultra-left, ultra-right, Islamic movement or communists. I care about them being TURK. You should stop judging Erdogan, but condemn Israel, they killed 9 brothers.
arrogance is what makes them run as a country of occupation.
And so are the Kurds, the Armenians and the other unnamed victims of Turkish racism.
I totally agree and support Netanyahu and Ayalon with this. Well done ! God Bless you !
Do you expect Sterngang-Lehi to apologise for the deaths of hundreds of Hungarian jews during WW2 as well?
None. Good job Bibi. You've created a new foe for Israel. One that is much stronger and more serious than Iran and others.
lets wait for the report to come out and you will see why we do not need to worry. Turkish government knowingly sent that boat full with MAGANDA, savages and criminal people. Should i remind you that your humanitarian IHH is a terror organization declared as such by your beloved European countries. Stop making silly threats about war - especially when your (now) spineless army that stands with no generals is equipped with Made In Israel tanks and airplanes. Worry about you latest bans on alcohol and freedom of speech - its easy for you to criticize a real democracy overseas.. can you do it in your own country where filtering and censorship is part of your daily"democratic"life .. Send my regards to Mr. Demokrasi arac mi amac mi..
Because let's face it, I doubt Turkey has any intention of entering war with a country as powerful as Israel.
I am telling ONLY the truth! You don't.
No sense banging her head against a stone wall. Let the chips fall, Hillary. Wash your hands of the matter. Let the chips fall where they may.
haha, that will not happend! they would choke on the word!
Think about it.
It is better that Israel remain friendless.
The Ottoman empire is a failed fact of history, Turkey demanding and aggressive policy and Conditions for friendship, it's move to a closer Iran, it's inhuman handling of the Kurds supports very much your posting that's, although Israel does not have friends in the neighborhood, it's not prepared to compromise it's moral position and prostitute itself ...truly good news
apologize or I mean it
Dear PM Netanyahu..Stay strong and RESOLUTE No apology to a Turkey with their Jihadist IHH ...Recognized by the world including Hamas as terrorists.. P/S Whenever you see my name contrary to my stance on all Israel's subjects (they are FAKES)
apologize or I mean it
Stay strong!!
Israel should apologize for a blatant terrorist attack by Turkey? Erdigan should get down on his hands & knees & beg forgiveness by the Israelis.
could you make a poll ? maybe their understanding of "national pride" is a bit more enlightened ?
Very good. Turkey has done away the legacy of mustafa kamal pasha. Now they are with ayothulas of iran. Also they are with britain to conduct naval exercises to terrorise cyprus so that it will not ask britain and turkey to leave cyprus.
Very good. Turkey has done away the legacy of mustafa kamal pasha. Now they are with ayothulas of iran. Also they are with britain to conduct naval exercises to terrorise cyprus so that it will not ask britain and turkey to leave cyprus.
Britian also has a huge military base on Cyprus. I think perhaps that you are a bit deluded and misguided in your 'support' of Greece - who is also a NATO member. NATO members do not threaten each other. One day, Israel may become a socialy developed country and be able to join itself. For now, i see that Israel doesnt really understand the meaning of true military alliance.
...and never regret nor apologize for killing civilians, that shows the criminal nature of your country.
the Arabs should apologize to Israel for multiple attacks since 1920. Don't you think that created a lot of suffering?
The Turks are such nice people ...... too bad.
Israel has never proposed to apologize for the people killed in the flotilla.
This is good news. We never wanna be friends with this terrorist Israel state. Thus, we welcome Israel's decision not to apologize to Turkey!!!
you were friends with the germans in the first and second world war too, you are good with picking friends and killing the kurds and armenians when they dont act like your understanding of "friend".
I don't know who's the biggest goof. The one saying Turkey was an ally of Germany in WW2 or the ones giving thumbs up for this comment! So what are you trying to say, that Turks also killed Jews during WW2? And about the Armenians and Kurds, we're living in 2011 now not in Ottoman times!
Who was attacked in international waters? The 'innocent' commando unit that stormed the darkness of the night as 'peacefully' on the ship?
It is not a good idea to attack an IDF soldier, especially with a metal bar or a knife. Some people have learnt that hard way. Since 1948 the Jewish people are no longer refugees scattered around the globe. There is a Jewish STATE, which won six wars initiated against her. So it will always be in future.
A video of a Turkish terrorists on the flotilla trying to stab and kill a soldier: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buzOWKxN2co
Hahahahahahhahahahahahaha, you are pathetic!
I saw the video. I think that you are pathetic.
Even the UN report says Turkey was wrong.
So it is worth Israel losing it's ONLY military partner in the Middle East? Yea, you go Bibi-- make your point. you would think that since Israel LOST the last war it fought (Lebanon) that all of you right wing Israeli nationalists would be concerned about maintaining military allies.
No matter how tempting (to naive eyes) a false apology is, point in fact is that Israel has nothing to apologize for to Turkey, though it certainly needs to apologize to its own soldiers for missing intelligence.
Dont you understand that this is not the reason but the result of turkish politics. Israel already lost the partner long before the flotilla. And Israel gave away complete Sinai Peninsula for peace, she will surely apologize if it would create friendhip again. It is over, wake up. Nonsense to apologize to "this Turkey". They dont want it anyway.
Very well.
Walt, if you ever come to reality, maybe you'll temper you blatant bias with some facts once in a while.
I'm glad Mr. Netanyahu stood up for the IDF. And in my opinion no other armed force in the world is as concerned about civilian casualties than the IDF is.
We will never .. never sell our dignity as we did in the diaspora. We Left Egypt to be Free ! Now we left the Diaspora to be Free ! A proof of our eternity !
You know, of course, that the Exodus is a myth without historical evidence. Not a big deal, as so much of religion is myth, but you claim that we Jews need to keep our dignity since we left Egypt to be free. You may want to read a history book before citing history in your comments next time.
for which a massacre on a civil protest group needs? No Akram, it is terror, murder of the most disgusting sort.
and our homes to be free from people who came with Irgun, Stern and Haganna
This thousands years ago story is History. If you cannot live with it you are lost. Life is about today and tomorrow for our kids. Get your mind back on Earth and live your life, not the legend. Also, letting the army get the bad job done - killing is a sin yes or no? and then claiming for eternity is all but Jewish to me !
The Jews of Egypt were expelled from Egypt, and that is not a myth. That is something that can be easily proven... They could not even take with them any thing of their belongings.
Akram - you do realise that the majority of Jewish people choose NOT to live in Israel and instead live in pretty much every other region of the World instead. Jewish people in Israel are actually a minority of world Jewry. Are you saying that the majority of Jewish people have sold thier dignity? or are somehow not free? I think that is a harsh, deeply unfair and insulting judgement.
gaza flotilla (away from turkey) was heading at full speed to israeli waters, so using your logic, if I run with a huge truck according to your home, 100 miles per hour and you stop me in the garden, what is it called? You should wait inside your home and die so that people will believe you are a nice person. Please wake up and get out and "defend" yourself, your family and your home !!