'Obama warns Erdogan international Gaza flotilla probe bad for Turkey'

because the UN will appoint someone like Goldstone to conduct them. But Obama is aware that the majority of the Americans know the truth about the terrorist act carried out by the Turkish jihadis with the help of the AKP, and aren't going to go along with demonizing Israel. Most of the Americans are already having second thoughts about Obama and he can't afford to keep alienating more people by unfairly singling Israel out.

Al-Jazeera TV Report from "Freedom Flotilla" Before Its Departure for Gaza: Activists On Board Chant Intifada Songs and Praise Martyrdom – May 28, 2010 Reporter: "Despite the Israeli threats and some unexpected obstacles, the arrival of the ships at the rendezvous, in preparation to set sail to Gaza, has kindled the emotions and enthusiasm of the participants." Crowd chanting: "Khaybar, Khaybar, oh Jews, the army of Muhammad will return." Reporter: "Through songs about the Palestinian Intifada, the participants expressed their longing to reach Gaza." Participant 1: "The brothers here are shouting and are full of enthusiasm. They are waiting to leave soon, with the ships around us in the sea. Allah willing, we will make our way to Gaza." Participant 2: "We are now waiting for one of two good things – either to achieve martyrdom, or to reach Gaza." Egyptian Expert on International Law Ahmad Hassan Omar: Turkey and Other Countries Should Use Aid Convoys to Transfer Weapons to Gaza and Returning Refugees to Acre – Al-Jazeera, May 18, 2010 Interviewer: "A spokesman for the Israeli Foreign Ministry said that the ['Freedom Fleet'] campaign was a provocation and a violation of Israeli law. How are we to understand this, from a legal perspective?" Dr. Hassan Ahmad Omar: "Resolution 3103 of the UN General Assembly, issued in 1973, affirmed the basic rights of combatants against foreign, racist, occupying forces. According to this resolution, all the counties in the world have the right – and even the obligation – to aid the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, in the form of food supplies and weapons. Moreover, the time has come to implement Resolution 194, regarding the return of the Palestinian refugees. "These convoys could carry food supplies and weapons, as well as Palestinian refugees, who want to return to their homeland. [...] "Israel, which imposes a siege on the Gaza Strip, cannot talk about legal channels for providing aid. In my view, Turkey..." Interviewer: "But such channels exist, don't they?" Dr. Hassan Ahmad Omar: "The siege that Israel is imposing... It is necessary to provide Gaza not only with food, water, and building supplies, but also with weapons. Weapons must be provided, because these are weapons of revolutionaries, and aid must be provided to the Gaza Strip. "It is necessary [to help] the refugees return to the Gaza Strip, as well as to the Acre region, because according to the partition plan, it belongs to the Arab state of Palestine. [...] "The various countries have an obligation to provide these weapons and food to Gaza, and [to enable] the return of the refugees. "Turkey could revive the commission consisting of Turkey, France, and the US, which was mentioned in Resolution 194 regarding the return of the refugees, thus facilitating the return of the refugees to Acre – at least the half million refugees from Lebanon – in accordance with article 6 of Security Council Resolution 1559. "These aid campaigns should not be restricted to food and water. The [ships] could also include returning refugees and weapons for the Palestinian revolutionaries. [...] "I would like to recommend that the brothers in Turkey use the hovercraft as a means of transportation." Interviewer: "But all these proposals require official international support for these ships. Does this campaign enjoy such support?" Dr. Hassan Ahmad Omar: "UN Resolution 3103 obliges these countries to provide aid to the Gaza Strip. The hovercraft can carry all the cars and all the aid. Since the Gaza port is not ready, the amphibian hovercraft can reach the very sands of Gaza. "In all future aid campaigns for Gaza we can use the hovercraft. I have approached the International Islamic Bank, and proposed that they buy hovercraft, and give them to countries that want to provide aid to Gaza."

I will be expecting to be shot at, 4 am thyey board the ship with fully armed and who calls this a double age sword? I do not get it, any way you try to spin it, it will have the same end result, they were killed in cold blood that is that

It would have been best to have an international commission with an Israeli, a Turk, and two neutral/foreign members that Israel and Turkey would agree on. This should have been arranged in negotiations between Israel and Turkey. A majority vote would have meant 3:1, a convincing majority with the two neutrals probably agreeing. Such an arrangement would have improved the relationship between Turkey and Israel, while a strictly Israeli commission will only create more distrust. Unfortunately, Israeli paranoia precluded this from happening. I hope the UN pushes for such an arrangement.

The breakdown in relations between Israel and Turkey is a problem for the US since both countries are valued friends. Israeli paranoia would not allow an international commission of inquiry, so Obama is trying to convince Turkey that it may suffer a setback if it insists on such an inquiry (which the Security Council already recommended). Perhaps Obama has a point, but this is not clear. According to many, the "siege" of Gaza amounted to a possible crime against humanity. If the naval blockade was an enforcement of an illegal act, then the blockade itself was illegal. Obama tries hard to smooth out the relationship, but I don't think his intervention will do much good. For the two sides to reconcile, the truth must be found by an independent international commission.

he has funded and supported terrorism against Israel. Israel should now finally move to support the just cause of the kurds in syria, iran, turkey and iraq.

That's the whole point isn't it? Let the truth be told, whatever it might be. Obama's scare tactics ... Bluff ... Disguised threat ... Quite a peace prize recipient who has no respect for truth or justice. Lawyer with no regard for due process, international law. Good job American liberal voters ... What a gift you have bestowed upon the world.

The only relevant question with regard to the Turkish-flagged Mavi Marmara is whether Israel was acting legally when her Navy attacked the Mavi Marmara. The applicable law is the San Remo manual, paragraph 47 which lists classes of enemy vessels exempt from attack. Paragraph 47(ii) includes "vessels engaged in humanitarian missions, including vessels carrying supplies indespensabel to the survival of the civilian population....However, paragraph 48 states that "vessels listed in paragraph 47 are exempt from attack only if they (a) are innocently employed in their normal role; (b) submit to identification and inspection when required. The Mavi Marmara, which carried IHH terrorists among civilian passengers, was not innocently employed. Once the Mavi Marmara refused to submit to inspection, it became subject to attack. Turkey would do well to listen to Obama on this. Turkey should renounce its association with the terror group IHH. Turkey needs to accept an end to this episode in which terrorists were mingling among civilians on a Turkish flagged vessel that originated in a Turkish port. As is, Turkey has lost some prestige.

How is it that Israel is the only country in the world not permitted to defend herself, and if there's the slightest doubt about an attack's "legitimacy", it's *always* Israel's reputation in question rather than the attackers (who are *always* Muslims). This is a disgrace that goes deliberately unnoticed everywhere, due to the world's increasing Jew-hatred (smears and negative propaganda similar to what the Nazis put out, but also derived from the famed utter fraud, The Protocol of the Learned Elders of Zion, and the King James version of the Bible and the Koran. The Holocaust would never have been possible without the nearly 2000 year accumulation of "scholarly" bigotry built up by the Catholic/Protest- ant Churches.). Israel may have done *some* things wrong along the way - it's practically inevitable; no country is perfect - but for Israel to be the invariable target of suspicion and contempt *every single time* and (as the single Jewish homeland on Earth) continual revilement and character assassination?!?

Reports from that particular newspaper, Al-Hayat, are usually not worth the ink they are written with. President Obama did not even veto a UN inquiry, and at this time, he is unlikely to be "warning" Turkey, which is already not enamored by the US' lackluster defense of its NATO ally. Finally, is it news that IHH supports the Palestinians? Would an international inquiry hit upon this and conclude that Israel's High Sea attack was justified, or the Blockade of 1.5 million is right and proper? Israel by pushing this report, probably into that newspaper first, seems to be groping for a straw. There is a whole plank waiting: end the blockade and begin serious negotiations... May be this is just about impossible! But the price Israel is and will be paying is so high. Still, it is only one of the factors that is not threatening its entire existence.

This is comedic at best. Who is going to "organize" this lynching of Israel?? The laughable UN that cannot even prevent Hizballah from rearming since 2006??? UN resolution 1701 prevents Hizballah from rearming. How did that International participation go?? So what "fair" tribunal could be conducted?? Its clear that Israel boarded the ships because they were entering an area at war. Very clear. They had a legal right to do so. On the other hand Turkey is playing the media. Israel has the evidence and Obama has seen it. This would make Turkey far more culpable because they provided a situation which played into the very reason Israel did not want the ships to land. Terrorist trainers and support must be kept out of Gaza. Thats Israels right!!! Get over it all you Israel and Jew haters!!

Could this be a case of The turkey has cooked it's own goose.

As long as it is unbiased i dont see any problem. People want the truth.

gutless spineless fool.

Erdogan is a throwback and is undignified. The Flotilla PR stunt and his alignment with Iran and Hamas is against Turkey's interest. May the Turkish people like the Americans wake up and realize that democracy and freedom like that in Israel makes the world a safer place. Shame on Obama for letting it get this bad as Arabs and allies like Israel and S. Korea see their is no American leadership or will to protect them and Turkey's PM who is a disgrace to Turkey

The victim is not guilty.

israel-turkey -the u.s. -all stand to lose by continuing the mutual campaign of recriminations and accusations------let's all agree both israel and turkey could and should have done more to prevent it from happening...as for turkey it can gain a key role in the middle east only if it continues to be on reasonably good terms with all parties not if it begins to compete with ahmedinajaab

If the story is correct, which is questionable, Obama is trading on shaky grounds. How does he know what the verdict of an international inquiry commission would be? It is not smart and it betrays the stirrings of a pro Israeli lobby. And if Turkey would indeed come out with a black eye wouldn't Obama and Israel welcome the creation of such investigative body?

The entire international community knows an international probe is fully warranted. They also know Obama speaks for interests other than those of the United States. Not much more to this recent development.

the findings of the probe concerning intervention of Russia in Georgia with hundreds deaths et assasinations.

Turkey and Syria oppress the Kurds. I think Israel should open an investigation into these crimes. Listen Israel, the best defense is an offense. Put the real criminals on trial.

and not all of them are militants.Just the fact that you are a Kurd is enough to become a target of Turkish warplanes and be killed,but apparently for the UN, the life of a Kurd doesn't have the same value as the life of an Arab killed in Gaza or geez! a life of a Turkish terrorist!

Neither for turkey nor for israel is the current relation satisfactorally and peaceful. Now Israels bad neighberhood relation is completed. Look at Europe. They have set the right circumtances to survive the next century which is based on good relations not on wappons. Israel needs a honest and accepted brooker helping to set up peace with israel and its neighbors. US cannot play this role annymore. Europe? Yes. With focus on long term policy they can do that. Israel needs a new policy with a long term focus on peace. Lets look at Europe.

The rhetoric way in which Turkey criticized Israel for its interception the Marmara ship, which everyone knows, was full of hatred and materials to kill Israeli people, and led to the killing of nine turkish citizens, who were Hammas' supporters, has put Turkish government of Erdogan and his hypocrite foreign minister in a difficult situation. Their vocal demands and spontaneous attitude, this is the style in Islamic world, have put them now face to face with international community and their supporters in Turkey... I personally, don't feel sorry for them, this is the result of supporting terrorism and being hypocrite and without ethics!

I doubt if this report is true. Not in any ther news source, including Turkish. I doubt if Obama, a lawyer, would be so crass so as to advise anyone against an open investigation so as as not to be "hurt" by facts. Give me a break. I do wish he had bigger balls though, maybe Erdogan can lend him one, he has too many.

Turkey does not listen to what uis being said. It is so intent of being heard. Turkey does not address its own responsibility and its hands are drenched in blood , deception and an international act of terrorism on teh high seas. Long before the IDF had troops on board we have all seen teh videos of incitement, preparing the metal rods etyc to attack teh soldiers. We have all seen teh videos of teh weapons they had from shotgun and pistol to spoeargun axe handles stun grenades, fire bombs. Yes indeed ZTurkey has some tough questions tom answer and she may get to answer then sooner rather than later

Erdogan’s comments on his meeting with US President Barak Obama reveal that Obama agreed with Erdogan on 3 points: 1. That Israel Should apologize for the raid on the Turkish ship convoy to Gaza 2. That Obama agreed with Turkey’s demand for redress from this raid 3. That Obama agreed with Turkey on the lifting of the Gaza blockade. Source: http://www.news.az/articles/18211 Obama also told Erdogan that he would express these three points to PM Netanyahu when he meets with him on 7 July.

....Never mind Israeli own inquiries, or Turkish inquiries; there is nothing wrong to have them too. But the international inquiry team needs to be ABSOLUTELY NEUTRAL as agreed by both sides to the conflict and investigate anything they think is needed. AND NEVER AGAIN AN IMPOSED INQUIRY BY A PREJUDICED GROUP SENT BY A PREJUDICED ORGANIZATION! And after that, let's talk about apologies, reparations, conclusions..... And blogs........ NO MORE TALK !!! GO !

Time for the US Congress to rescind its decision not to acknowledge Turkey's genocidal past. Turn up the heat on the Turdogan. US PR machine should be fast at work poignantly addressing Turkey's killing of Armenians, Kurds, Greeks, Cypriots - from Ottoman Empire through today.

Isn't it what Israel would want? I'd say just go for it and let the international probe show the world the Turkish side of the story is wrong. Let the other edge of the sword cut the arguments Turkey is making. Do you honestly think that the western leaders would help Turkey conceal its wrong-doings? We are already under unsubstantiated accusations of various sorts under conveniently laid definitions of right and wrong. If someone is to about prove anything against Turkey without much hassle, oh boy, they would have loved it. Who are you kidding for God's sake?

A probe into his illegal activity? He needs a psych.

what will be the outcome of this warning? Turkey knows that US / obama is not impartial. Therefore obama cannot change turkish attitude. He can only loose respec t by turkey if he once more support the wrong İsraeli policy. İt make no sense for İsrael to have Turkey as enemy.

I don't think Obama is that STUPID, after all, he went to Harvard, right?

Clearly, Turkey is not worried about what an international inquiry will reveal. The indication is that he has nothing to hide. Israel, on the other hand, fears an impartial investigation precisely because of what it has to hide. That Obama should warn Turkey against such a probe, instead of encouraging Israel to agree to one, is disheartening to say the least.

Erdogan would not be pushing for an international inquiry if he had anything to hide..but who's Obama trying to cover up for or placate..?

Dr. Aaron Lerner, director of IMRA asked Hebrew University international law expert Dr. Robbie Sabel about the legality of the IDF action in international waters: http://daledamos.blogspot.com/2010/05/more-on-legality-of-israels-blockade-of.html Dr. Sabel explained that a state, in a time of conflict, can impose an embargo, and while it cannot carry out embargo activities in the territorial waters of a third party, it can carry out embargo activities in international waters. Within this framework it is legal to detain a civilian vessel trying to break an embargo and if in the course of detaining the vessel, force is used against the forces carrying out the detention then that force has every right to act in self defense. Dr. Sabel noted that there is a long history of embargo activities in international waters. There is more information about that issue from the website of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs: A maritime blockade is in effect off the coast of Gaza. It has been imposed, as Israel is currently in a state of armed conflict with the Hamas regime that controls Gaza. 1. A maritime blockade is in effect off the coast of Gaza. Such blockade has been imposed, as Israel is currently in a state of armed conflict with the Hamas regime that controls Gaza, which has repeatedly bombed civilian targets in Israel with weapons that have been smuggled into Gaza via the sea. 2. Maritime blockades are a legitimate and recognized measure under international law that may be implemented as part of an armed conflict at sea. 3. A blockade may be imposed at sea, including in international waters, so long as it does not bar access to the ports and coasts of neutral states. 4. The naval manuals of several western countries, including the US and England recognize the maritime blockade as an effective naval measure and set forth the various criteria that make a blockade valid, including the requirement of give due notice of the existence of the blockade. 5. In this vein, it should be noted that Israel publicized the existence of the blockade and the precise coordinates of such by means of the accepted international professional maritime channels. Israel also provided appropriate notification to the affected governments and to the organizers of the Gaza protest flotilla. Moreover, in real time, the ships participating in the protest flotilla were warned repeatedly that a maritime blockade is in effect. 6. Here, it should be noted that under customary law, knowledge of the blockade may be presumed once a blockade has been declared and appropriate notification has been granted, as above. 7. Under international maritime law, when a maritime blockade is in effect, no boats can enter the blockaded area. That includes both civilian and enemy vessels. 8. A state may take action to enforce a blockade. Any vessel that violates or attempts to violate a maritime blockade may be captured or even attacked under international law. The US Commander's Handbook on the Law of Naval Operations sets forth that a vessel is considered to be in attempt to breach a blockade from the time the vessel leaves its port with the intention of evading the blockade. 9. Here we should note that the protesters indicated their clear intention to violate the blockade by means of written and oral statements. Moreover, the route of these vessels indicated their clear intention to violate the blockade in violation of international law. 10. Given the protesters explicit intention to violate the naval blockade, Israel exercised its right under international law to enforce the blockade. It should be noted that prior to undertaking enforcement measures, explicit warnings were relayed directly to the captains of the vessels, expressing Israel's intent to exercise its right to enforce the blockade. 11. Israel had attempted to take control of the vessels participating in the flotilla by peaceful means and in an orderly fashion in order to enforce the blockade. Given the large number of vessels participating in the flotilla, an operational decision was made to undertake measures to enforce the blockade a certain distance from the area of the blockade. 12. Israeli personnel attempting to enforce the blockade were met with violence by the protesters and acted in self defense to fend off such attacks. Of course, this will not stop the apologists from blindly insisting that Israel had no right to stop the Gaza Flotilla while it was in international waters. But those people are wrong. See also: Still Another Source On Israel's Right To Stop The #Flotilla Technorati Tag: Gaza Flotilla and International Law.

tell them to take a flying uknowwhat thats why its called turkey

How can a probe be bad for anyone? Double edged sword or not the truth must come out. Resisting an inquiry sounds like someone doesn't want us to know what really happened. If these people are terrorists we need to know and if they are innocent peace activists we need to know too.