Turkish human rights group seeks to prosecute Barak for alleged Gaza war crimes

I read about the case in Haaretz.

Galloway is a murderer and must be jailled for incitement and involvement in the murder of egyptian police officer. This English trash must be removed from the streets before he strikes again.

If you really are Turk (Not from Turchia but from Turkiye) then you should be following the #1 news on th e Turkish media as it is known ERGENEKON. There are manny people in detention without any charges under this mythocal case. This is not fair justice. In fact there is no such a thing as fair justice in Turkey and this is not my opinion. Read Oktay Eksi, Kadri Gursel, Cuneyt Ulsever etc. And as you said the system (Not works as you said but rarher) takes many years and they keep people o ndetention all that time. Enjoy your safety at Turchia hahaha

"Israel has not committed any war crimes whatsoever in Gaza. The operation Cast lead was pure in self defence and was aim- ed at stopping the rockets launched from Gaza." Dov Try telling that to the war crim es tribunal....Let's face it that's where your officials and commanders' war crimes are heading. Dutch

Israel really loosing ground due to lack of self - motivated agenda. When Livni was in office we defended right of Turkey to kill Armenians in 1911 - 1916 and right of Georgians to kill Ossetians, just because. Today Turkey grew up accustomed to the fact as long as they are hanky panky with GosDep they can ran amok. In spite of all show of force by Israel, it is the customer base that Israel fails to lose. However with more than 40 unemployed Jewish people wasting Knesset salaries for the pleasure of being "un dzeep undirgraund yopposition", securing Israel commerce is left to US, but again. And you can only imaging how motivated our GosDep today to do just that. Send Livni to England or escort Al Gore and hire someone who would actually work instead of sticks in the wheels. This is not an advice, but diagnosis. If Israel fails to employ motivated and competent bureaucrats who will wage all out effort to secure Israel commerce for the next 10 years we will not have country.

Dear ChanahS, It's been a long while since we last communicated. I think you excommunicated me for not being on side. However. I'm following up on something you asked another contributor. You asked Potobac 92 for a source. It is not too difficult to find these with the Internet these days, so I presume this was a polite way of dismissing his comments. But after I read your post, I decided to have a look on-line. Using the information supplied by Potobac, I typed in "Concentration Camp" communist, Poland, Jew. One site by Michael A. Hoffman II was the fifth ranked site on Google. He writes about Judaic Communists and attributes to the Communists Jews some very disturbing intentions,and outcomes. I have not checked out the the validity of his information, but it seems plausible on first inspection. I particularly want to find out more about Malcolm Muggeridge's book "Winter in Moscow". Here is the site: http://www.revisionisthistory.org/communist.html Regards

Google produced the name Solomon Morel. http://judicial-inc.biz/morel_a_jewish_monster.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salomon_Morel A complicated issue that can be misused by anyone.

It seems some posters here are living in the past. There is a difference between something that happened many years ago and actions that are going on today. We cannot change the past. We CAN change the present and the future. There is a concept called "evolving standards of decency." As civilization advances our standards of human rights become higher. Because human rights violations happened in the past does not justify committing them today. And how do you prosecute "those responsible" for something that was done 95 years ago? They are no longer alive.

do not change the subjet. would like me to believe you are right? what the entire world saw on TV was it a theatrical production showing zionists performing humanitarian action on the Gaza Palestinians? why did you have to kill 1400 people most of them women and children? Do you believe that your claim to "exeptionalism" has any followers except with zionists? Do you believe that lying shamelessly about your crimes will make you more friends? You are sinking into greater pariahood every day.

What a bunch of hypocrites. YOu guys actually think you're going to get into the EU becoming more and more islamist?

why not apply the same technique and Prosecute the other nations' politicians for their war crimes: The Brits for crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan; the Dutch for allowing the Serb Bosnian Massacre, Germans for abetting the Croats massacre of the Serbs; the French for massacres in Africa, the belgians for Massacres in the Congo, The US for massacres every\where, There is no end to the atrocities committed by the Turks on the Kurds, prosecute ERDOGAN and his henchmen. Prosecute Ahmadinejad for massacres in Iraq and in Argentina. there is no end to whom one can prosecute, so don't sit back complaining, serve them arrest warrants and go from there...

I am amazed at how this stupid article got 100+ comments when it is nowhere in Turkish news. Come on, Jews, don't exaggerate everything; if this was something important, I would read it in at least one Turkish newspaper. The group this article cites is a very small pro-muslim group. They will bring anything that has to do with muslims' rights into court, and they have all the freedom to do so. It is the court that will decide on the issue. I am sure this is only one of the hundreds of thousands of something cases this human rights group is working on; and Turkish news would not talk about every single of them; it is a waste of time. But you Israelis seem to have too much time in your fingers, hahaha. Anyway, even if it was to be taken to court, given that Turkish court system works so slowly, it would take at least 2 years before a decision; so yea, your politician is safe, hahaha. Plus, don't u think it is a bit crazy for Turkey to arrest a pro-Turkish guy? Wake up guys!!

Your "pincher" movement could be improved a little by offering to host a Genocide conference between the parties (turkey&armenia) in Israel. You could dispatch all your diplomats with best wishes to all the Balkan countries even reaching out in friendship to big muthar Russia. Next, Mr Ayalon is off to Greece to another very awkward diplomatic date with some difficult people. Oh, you could also announce that since your dear christian friends have "issues" and a long history in the city,any muslim claims on Jerusalem are superceded by their claims which are currently being fairly resolved..why? Because they were there first.Then,those starry-eyed evagelists who are driving you crazy? Welcome them with open arms and give each a square block to work in "problem" areas simply because it's better to have them converted to anything-than become a jihadist. So,go ahead, play your "Christian Card",we we're rotten to you and feel bad, why should we say anything?

Actually I should be happy that the words like human rights has reached Muslims ears and world. A warning to Iran,Hezbollah,Hamas,Sudan and other war criminals in islamic universe. Be careful because there is a human rights group out there in Turkey that is watching you. Yes boys,anxiety and sleepless nights are coming to you. Talk about Israeli war crimes,Omer Al Bashir.

yes Ali killed kurds and armenian but two wrongs does not make right

Nowadays, I've read a lot of news about Turkey and Turks on this screen.Why you Israelis are so doubtful about Turks? Turkey is on the right way and there is no former Turkey that ally of Israel. And about Kurds.They are our brothers and we're living together on this lands along centuries.Don't make us each other enemy with Kurds.And one more thing:There is no Armenian Genocide...

Anyone even superficially familiar with Jewish history is aware of the irrationality and pernicious consequences of stereotypical thinking. Dr. L. Brnd dementedly assumes that everyone who has ever been Turkish is to be held responsible for the Armenian genocide and for the oppression of the Kurds. On another note, his smug laughter has Israeli economic, technical and military superiority as one of its conditions of possibility. Only hubristic blindness, however, can lead someone to suppose that such superiority is guaranteed to last forever.

"Interesting - for decades Israel and the obedient Jewish lobby worked overtime at preventing the US government from declaring the Armenian slaughter a genocide. Now all of a sudden the Armenian issue comes in handy as a diversionary tactic ? All of the sudden is WAS a war crime ??? You people are laughable ! Make up your mind :) David" Yes David you are 100% right. On top of that you can also Google BBC Israel Kurds and you will see an expose on how Israel is and has been in Iraq training and arming the Kurds as well. Israel did the same with Iran during the Iran/Iraq was supplying chemicals for chem weapons. If it kills or hurts muslims then you know who is playing both ends. Israel is interested in restoring the Mosul-Haifa pipeline for some time now. What better way to capture The european oil market then to have Iran sanctioned to where they cant buy oil but there will be Israel willing to supply from the Mediterranean sea. Convenient. I pay no attention to these fools.

"Turkey's relations with Israel have been hurt by the fury that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed about Israel's war in Gaza a year ago." Actually, no. His anger was justified. What harmed relations was the hysterical reaction to this criticism by the Israeli government, culminating in the recent racist display by Ayalon, and his subsequent boasting about it.

I believe Haaretz will interest with this, When he insult to a Turkish Diplomat his grandmother Hanna Ayalon saved from a TURKISH DIPLOMAT at 1943 from Crete to Rhodes.I must add that for information to Israeli friends too.

Israel does not recognize Armenian Genocide. If you are so upset with Turkey denying the genocide, then how come your own country also denies the very same genocide?

to the people on here from the US and Canada that constantly critisise Israel, why are American and Canadian forces in Afghanistan? obviously terrorists are firing missiles into America and Canada from Afghanistan?! Before critisising others, clean up your own kitchen

ISRAELS ACTIONS IN GAZA WERE SERIOUS BUT THE FORCE MARCHED MASSACRE OF ARMENIANS IN 1915 WAS SHEER SADISTIC GENOCIDE . TURKEY MUST ADMIT THIS IN DOCUMENTARIES.

Turkish human rights wants to put Barak in Turkish jail I persume! Do they have human rights in their jails????

What happened in Gaza during those 27 days will be remembered and debated and actions will follow against Israel for what they did. This is going live on for a long time. Goldstone will also rears its head again. It's going to be a long P.R. battle.

I felt that maybe I should clear the point about Mazlum Der.By being someone grown up in Istanbul and being Turkish and knowing Turkey very well. I would say Mazlum Der is not an institution that you need to take it seriously. And I would say you are giving them much of a credit as considering them human right group or activists.Of course you may not know that therefore I needed to explain that this institution by the name suggest bias towards only a single group of people and blind to the rest. Even though human right group or activists suggests otherwise. I personally dislike their hypocrisy.

If a British judge issues an arrest warrant against Zippi Livni, who was only the Foreign Minister during the alleged commission of war crimes in Gaza, it makes sense that Ehud Barak who was the Defense Minister and, in effect, direct overall commander of operation, also be investigated for war crimes. Britain will not issue now an arrest warrant against Barak because he enjoys diplomatic immunity being a government minister, but Livni is merely an MK at the present time and has no immunity. (Remember Pinochet, a senator during his arrest in England?) The basic problem in that Barak refuses to allow an independent Israeli investigation into alleged war crimes, and agrees only to an IDF investigation. Let the fox be guarding the chicken coop. So let Barak be cooped in Israel when he is no longer minister.

in case it's not clear, my response was meant for bruce from livingston,nj.

I find it so ludicrous when anyone and everyone can whine in a court and ask that court to bring charges against any government. It's insane! Let us not forget Bashar of Sudan has an arrest warrant and not one Islamic State mentions this? They all welcomed him with open arms. Even Turkey.

IDF acted much more morally than any other army in the world history in active warfare. Please provide any example of higher morality of any other army during active warfare.

Dov, read the Goldstone Report

"These countries are embarrassed by their legal system and are tryng to change the law so that Israelis can`t be brought to court in their countries". Just who is embarrassed? I'm not, My family isn't and people that i've spoken to about it aren't. So please don't speak on our behalf. Just for the record we're white Anglo Saxons, not Muslims.

Just read the 1st posting from Monia. I am sure there are other hypocrites like ker. With Turkey's record against the Kurds they should just shut up about war crimes. Anybody who does not see the absolute outrageous hypocrisy should not be allowed to post a comment.

Have you got any proof about "systematically" killing on Kurds?

would you say the same thing about Israeli human-rights groups?

Interesting - for decades Israel and the obedient Jewish lobby worked overtime at preventing the US government from declaring the Armenian slaughter a genocide. Now all of a sudden the Armenian issue comes in handy as a diversionary tactic ? All of the sudden is WAS a war crime ??? You people are laughable ! Make up your mind :) David

The only criminals are within hamas and their supporters. Launching rockets indiscriminately against civilians for 8 years is a violation of international law. The defense against the rockets is well within international law. Not to mention these trumped up charges have been tried-to no avail, ever.

Do you have any reliable sources for this snippet of information?

Israel has not committed any war crimes whatsoever in Gaza. The operation Cast lead was pure in self defence and was aimed at stopping the rockets launched from Gaza.

Actually I should be happy that the word human rights has reached Muslims ears and world. Note to Iran,Hezbollah,Hamas,Sudan and other war criminals in islamic universe. You better be careful,there is a human rights group out there in Turkey that is watching you. Yes,anxiety and sleepless nights are coming boys. Talk about Israeli war crimes,Omer Al Bashir.

Situation is not good. may be one day turkey will be like iran. as you know before khumayni iran is good patner for israel.

Turkish human rights group - ha ha ha

You wrote that Israel and Turkey are the only two countries not run by sheiks and Mollahs. Israel fits but I must sadly say that not Turkey. In Germany you have access to YouTube. In Turkey it is banned. If you make a search under the name of Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Fethullah Gulen (The famous Turkish Ayatollah Humeyni whom I had seen in a funeral when he was serving at the Hocazade Camii in Izmir) you will see videos wher Erdogan is on his knees in front of Gulen. You should also know that the newspaper Vakit and Zaman which are supported by the Gulen organization ar being distributed free by th eErdogan's AKP. Can; Turkey is in a very bad path since Erdogan came to power He is smart enough not to rush like Iranian style coup. He is doing it slowly or as they say in Turkish ALISTIRA ALISTIRA.

That case was wrong, he should have been extradited. However the case with Omar Al Bashir is about genocide allegations. It is still going on as we breath today.

I understand your efforts to present a clensed image of your country. Actually this is respectable. However please stick only to the truth since ther are peopole like me who follow Turkey very closely(Since I ws bor raised in Turkey and have very strong connections) You know very well that freedoms in Turkey have ben curbed enourmousluy under Erdogan. Many intellectuals are detained under the myth of ergenekon and the ex president of Ataturkcu Dusun ce Dernegi a great medical doctor and humanitarion lady was kept in jail without proper medical treatment for her cancer without any charges. I think it was you who had mentioned that friends say the difficult truths. So please don't get mad at me. I am just reminding yo the truth so that you fight against these injustices in your country.

The protocol was signed by the two sides with the dificult efforts of USAs Hillary Clinton and Switzerland's Calmy Rey. It is not an accord and the opening of the Turkish Armenian border has no pr3 condidions. Just a few days ago Armenians passed it from ther congress and kept thir side of the bargain. Turkey on the other side has not done that. PM erdoga said that they will only bring it to TBMM (parliament) if Armenia pulls out all of its troops from Ngornogh Karabakh - which is against the protocol. So the fact is Turkey is not obeying the protocol that she signed and there is no hope in sight that Turkey will open the border. Just a few days ago Mr. Putin also told Mr. Erdogan about it remember? I tell you Hodri Meyda, keep your promise and open th eborder immediately respecting the protocol that you signed so that we see that Turkish signatur is worth more that the paper it is written.

... or no Europe. Turkey chosen the Hujab ... The long and short of it !

They have great humorists especially political humorists. But they are often punished by AKP and Erdogan. The most famous humor magazine PENGUIN r3eceived a big fine after depicting PM Erdogan as a cat. The master of Turkish political humor AZIZ NESIN was put on fire with his Alev / Bektsi group at a hotel in Sivas (Where soccer player Balili plays) some years ago but islaist extreemists with same ideology of AKP and this MazlumDer. So yo se; So much for freedom of speech in Turkey. If you agree with AKP and Erdogan you are free to do anything including braking the laws (eg: Teh Lighthouse charity affair never brought to court) but if you oppose you are injail .

Ok, here you're talking. You let Turks have their own opinion on their history, you let them decide what to call genocide, and what not, in spite of the world public opinion. 95 years has passed since the tragedy, and NOT ONE Turkish government admitted to call it genocide. In spite of the whole world's public opinion.They did not admit it after 2 years, 5 years, 10, 20, 40, 70, 95 years, NOT ONCE. So, what do Turks want from Israel ? They want Israel to stop thinking about its own problems and start to feel for Palestinians ? Now YOU put yourself in Israel's government shoes. Would you listen to Turkish demands seriously ? Or would you care about your own problems and ignore as to what our peace-loving friends from Istanbul are saying ? Now, I personally may not think this is the right way. But I just follow your logic, extrapolate from your views on Turkey's behavior to Israel's case.

Oh my God! Your veins must be ready to explode! You need to stop all this hating - it makes you type in capital letters. I don't understand why a zionist is not living in Israel. Can you explain that for me? Can you also explain why every time Israel is accused of war crimes, zealots (the brainwashed and uneducated) always try and deflect the topic by accusing everyone else of even worse war crimes. That is a favorite ploy of little children, not one that is credible in adults. Most nations on this planet have a shameful episode in their history. We should learn from these and ensure they are never repeated. You cannot do this if you won't acknowledge that your country has committed war crimes against a defenseless population, and that you continue to persecute them today. You, are actually Israel's worst enemy.

Calm down guys, it was only proposed, and no decision has been made yet. Everybody has the right to petition against everybody. What matters here is the decision of the court. So I think most of you overreact.

Try pulling down the fence between the USA and Mexico. You might just find yourself protesting your innocence when they cuff you and carry you away for interrogation..

I have not read all the comments above.Actually I would like to talk about my concerns developed since 2002. First of all, like any group of people anywhere on Earth we, Turks, are not thinking in same way in certain issues as the people of Israel. Recent issues concerning Israel and Turkish government made me sad. I believe that Israelis and Turks should support each other by accepting their differences. They have to support each other because they are the only two countries in the Middle East that they are not ruled by sheiks or mollas or other group of rulers from dark ages. From my point of view Israel made some mistakes, I might be wrong or correct based on my personnel judgement. In the same way, people of Israel must think about Turkey. This should not be turn to a opportunity to the internal policies of our countries.Instead different views of our countries should be openly discussed in a friendly manner not in how it is done today for the sake of our nations mutual future.

what a joke..turkish human rights group should investigate the backwardeness and human rights abuse in their own country..

A joke.The turkish human rights ist not serieus. They have to care first about human rights in Turky.What about Kurdish people,Armenians and generaly human rights at home. Erdogan,we don`t need in the European Union such people.

Al Qaida because Ottoman Empire? Al Qaida ideology comes from Vahabism let me enlight you my son; Their first allied was French Empire aganist Turks than British Empire after importance of oil rise America became their allied even Turks fight aganist vahabism too,so stop using Qaida card another funny reason.

I writin similar comment again,an Armenian nazi who is hero for Armenians; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drastamat_Kanayan about other issues who imply Turks invade Northern Iraq etc. Turkish planes attacking to civilian places?Even as i remember when Ehud Olmert visited USA faced with protest,today Israeli officals cant go to UK even facing with protest at many European countries?What our wise friends going to say about this?Same card Kurds and Armenians.

The Turks are not trying to lecture Israel but rather to provide a venue to bring war criminals to justice. It is called "Universal jurisdiction" This is the same law Israel used to bring German war criminals to justice. They didn't think they were guilty either.

Thank you Sir. I hope you are right and wish you all the best from Slovakia where I have lot of turkish friends. Got bless you for your words. Turkey have the same problem with Kurds and nobody is going to prosecute youur government.

Dear friend, What about to prosecute Turkish government for systematicaly killing the Kurds ? Dont you know about it?

You are sourrounded by ennemies, even if you acted morally, the other countries would find something to say about you. And since you don't act morally, they have a legitimate reasons to criticize you. Turkey is working with the Kurds now. Violance has ended in the Kurdish region. There is still a lot to do but Turkey isn't destroying their homes, imprisoning them without reason or stealing their land for some time now.

then of course Universal Jurisdiction can also apply. Israel can pursue and prosecute the instigators and facilitators of that shameful period of Turkish history. That is what Universal Jurisdiction means. As Barak and Livni are finding out. No shopping trips to London for them.

You may recall a recent case where a Jew who ran a communist concentration camp in Poland was wanted for charges he beat several inmates to death with his hands. Israel refused to extradite him. Sometimes countries for their own reasons don't release internationally wanted criminals.

This is Turkey's way of showing how to be a hypocrite and non democratic, they have many war crimes to answer for as far as the kurds are concerned . Israel committed no war crimes in Gaza,this is only Palestinian propaganda,with the help of the Italian left and others.

Turks wants to talk about morality? Let them pull out of Kurdistan first. Amazingly that the Kurdish people who always for thousand of years have been good to the jewish people are now not supported by us. Even on lot of israeli news paper forums,letters with the word Kurd, Kurdistan or Kurdish in relation with Turk Turkey Turkish, are not published

Turkey; A pincer movement. Instead of that foolish,silly & infantile cheap show of humiliation accorded to the Turkish Envoy. Israel should have come up with a plan. A pincer movement,flanking Turkey indirectly by supporting the Kurds openly,& opening the wounds of the Turkish Genocide against the Armenians. In this way the Turks will have had to deal with other problems instead of cozing up to the radical-hate-filled Islamists against Israel. The outcome,will,one day be a strong Kurdastan,gathering all its 16 or 18 million sitting around her borders,namely in,Turkey,Syria,Iran & Irak. That is one more reason why Israel should be amongst the first,or the first to help Kurdish Independence. Pay attention: People or Nations Never forget or forgive being humiliated ! Never ! It's no time for Barak to go to Turkey now. They'll be preparing a special,"welcome" for him. How do people get jobs in the F.Ministry ?

Actually I chose the example of Russia and the Czar for the reason the two were autocrats the country got rid of because they disapproved of their actions. As to why they don't want to go along with the claim of genocide, I suspect there are two reasons. One is that there may very well be an element of truth in their explanation. The other is a lawyerly thing: admitting would open them up to penalties which they would not want to pay since the actions were not under their control. Why pay for someone else's crime?

So you and other like you think you can excuse your crimes because there are other criminals around? One crime from you and another crime from others, make TWO crimes. If you do not believe ME, trying killing one person and then go to court and ask to BE SET FREE BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE WHO DO THE SAME THING!

unfortunately, no one is laughing. BOYCOTT TURKEY.

I do not care what Barak is responsible for. He is invited by the state, and nobody can do anything about, when it comes to state's decisions. He will be welcomed, and we will show how we treat our guests.

Perhaps it is true what you say, but they ARE teaching Israel a lesson right at this moment... in case you have not noticed.

I hope that Ayalon does not punish our ambassador for those protestors by making him sit on a lower chair again. :))

The key paragraph of the story is: "Turkey's Justice Ministry has previously rejected similar appeals against Israeli officials, and authorities haven't acted on the petition authored by the Istanbul-based Mazlum-Der group." Of course the Turkish govt won't act. For many reasons, it doesn't want to deal ithself out of having any mediating role in the conflict. Being side-lined by Operation Cast Lead was what got the Turks upset in the first place. Shedding crocodile tears for the Gazans is just the fig-leaf behind which they hide to vent their spleen over the diplomatic set-back they suffered.

... the occupation and the settlement-industry will not be tolerated forever...

... now is the time for conciliation, not for perpetuation of petty grievances... ... the Gaza war was rash and heavy-handed, disproportionately punitive, but it was not a 'war-crime'...

With Turkey's record of the Armenian people genocide and their brutal attacks against the Kurds, they are the last ones to lecture Israel about morality. If Turkey would have faced the same situation with the Kurds as Israel is facing with Hamas, the inevitable results would have been complete annihilation of the Kurds.

And Israel will sit quietly and swallow and swallow. It is sickening to watch it. The main theme that Hizbullah and Hamas want to destroy Israel is not heard.

They already have NGOs demanding religious freedom and protesting intolerance... in the West of course. The current protests are about the Swiss referendum banning minarets.

Israel startet the war, killing 6 Hamas activists the 4th of November 2008. Stop spreading those bloody lies all the time.

when i read the comments, i clearly saw that israeli friends did not know much about turkey eventhough most of them have their holiday here. above all, turkey is a democratic law state and every single person may submit a petition regarding anything. Everybody can express his ideas but it does not mean that all the others should think in that way. For example, As a turk, I do not like Erdogan and but i support his stand when he asks Israel to respect international law. As to the demonsrators, they also have the right to express their ideas although i do not agree. And as far as i know the same group sometimes gives the same reactions to our own government. Here i also believe that Barak is the wrong adress to be blamed.

These countries are embarrassed by their legal system and are tryng to change the law so that Israelis can't be brought to court in their countries. Also Turkey is having a very hard time getting into the European union. have you been to Turkey? I have many many times. Each time it is more and more fundamentalist so I don't want to go any more.

Sounds like vegetarian tiger.

and not one comment adresses the headline. Barak is in danger of arrest if he enters TURKEY. That would make two countries suspected Israeli war criminals would be subject to arrest. It's just a matter of time before these lowlifes are brought to justice.

Did not Brazil object when a US ambassador met with separatists?

You are wrong about Turkey lack of effort to make up the historic animosity: An accord between Armenia and Turkey was signed by the foreign ministers of the two countries, Ahmet Davutoğlu and Eduard Nalbandyan, on 10 October 2009. The signing took place in Zurich, Switzerland. US and Russian foreign ministers were present. Armenian Diaspora should not reject peace overtures from Turkey. Soccer teams played Turkey won 2-0 (not unlike Nixon ping pong games China diplomacy). It seems that while the Armenian state working on peace with Turkey, Armenian Diaspora is much more uncompromising. Anyway, let's not confuse 2 issues here: Barak and IDF alleged international war crimes in Gaza and difficult relations between Turk and Armenian.

Human rights groug in a muslim country? Is there such a thing? And how many Kurds have Turkey killed today? How about the Armenian genocide?

Since all actions against the Armenians took place 95 years ago, what do you suggest a Turkish Human Rights group do about it now? Perhaps you suggest they should change history?

Yor're right - current Turkish government has nothing to do with genocide that occured 95 years ago. But they do not admit to the fact that this is happened.They do not want to call it genocide. To the contrary to your russian example, you can think of today's Germany not excepting the fact that 65 years ago they commited terrible crimes. One more time: current Turkish goverment does not have relations with Armenia because they simply do not admit that genocide happen. Do you why they don't admit ? Why is it hard to say - 95 years ago genocide happened. Why can not they simply admit that what happened so many years ago was genocide. Only call it genocide. That hard ?

Never mind the Armenian genocide. Have they charged anyone for that yet? Ooops, of course we cant mention that one to the Turks.

And we procecute the entire Turkish government for killing Kurds by dropping bombs and rockets from airplanes and sending a barrage of artilary shells into their villages.

It is about time that the Turkey comes clean on its atrocious history. For too long Israel kept quiet trying to be nice to Turkey...but recent moves shows once again the true nature of the Turkish bigoted beast.

is up in Israel. The economy is up in Israel. BOO- HOO to you too.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=an-open-letter-to-israelis-by-a-concerned-turk--2010-01-15

Expect Israel to do? Not defend against the daily barrage of rockets? Tell the truth now. Would'nt it just delight your hearts to see all the people of Israel killed in those rocket attacks rather than see them alive today? At least the President of Iran is honest. Just what do you expect the international community to do for you? Kill all the people of Israel for you? After all they cannot defend themselves without you sueing them in a bogus court.

The word "oxymoron" hardly does justice to this hypocrisy. The Kurds and Armenians must wonder what these guys do for a living. What will we have next - The Saudi Committee for Religious Freedom demanding more access for Moslems to the Vatican? Or maybe British Parlimentarians picketing the American Dental Association demanding better quality dentistry in America. Or..."Khmer Rouge and Hutus United Against Genocide". No one can accuse the Turks of not having a sense of comedy.

What a Hypocrite and ludicrous! Is there such a thing as an "Islamic Human Right group"? As an ex-Moslem, I find this very offensive that a Moslem Group claims to be pro-human rights! The first step, this so called "Islamic Human Rights Groups should take is to go back in time and and bring Mohammad, the prophet, for justice for all the crimes, atrocities and child molestation he did against humanity. Then, go after Islamic Republic of Iran and Turkish government.

Yes, something terrible happened 95 years ago. However, nobody alive in Turkey and the current Turkish government had anything to do with it. What does it have to do with them? If nothing, why bother them about it?It's like taking the current Russian government to task over something the Czar did.

And who would you prosecute? Make sure you also take the Spanish to court for the inquisition, the Nazis for world war II (again) and Rahm Emmanuel for saying he's fed up.

S: "Any concerns about the 20 million persecuted Kurds?" When did "persecution" become a war crime, Semsen? If you have a specific allegation of a specific war crime committed by the Turkish govt against the Kurds then let's hear it. Otherwise, your question is pure polemic.

Calm Down Jewis Friends! As a Turk i can say you, that this stupid Islamic Human Right Idiots have no chance to do do anything to your Defense Minister. I personally, would beat them, if they want to do that. Millions of Turks are with you Israelis. Do not forget that please. We like you! Next Year we have elections here. Forget Fascist Erdogan. 2010 is his last Year on this stupid AKP Government! Long live Israel and Turkey! Iran is our enemy, and we hope to have you with us together, against Iranian Fascist Regime.

Vive Turkey! Perhaps Turkey can become to the ME what Spain has become in Europe: an unabashed seeker of justice. Let's hope that those Israelis concerned that Turkey is moving closer to Iran and Syria are right.

Israel growing as world economic power leaving sworn enmies Iran, Syria, and proxies in the their dust. Turkey becoming more beligerent, in response to their own internal politics, and if continues, will soon join sworn enemies in decent to the economic abyss.

1999, the death toll of Kurds killed in Turkish military operations increased to over 40,000. According to the figures published by Turkey?s own Parliament, 6,000 Kurdish villages were systematically evacuated of all inhabitants and 3,000,000 Kurds have been displaced. This sounds like an elimination of a people, a culture and a homeland. When is this Islamic human rights group in Turkey going to start legal proceedings against their own countrymen for carrying out these atrocities.

A: "what this group say about armenian genocide in 1915." They'd say there is no-one to prosecute over that crime, because the people who were responsible for that crime are all long since dead and buried.

For over 30 years the Turks ethnically cleansed the Kurds from over 4000 villages. Before that they murdered thousands of their minority citizen who could not pay the "special tax" levied on them. Before that.. well ask the Armenians.. You want to war on Israel, you'll have your head handed to you, you cowards.

What happened 95 years ago has relevance today simply because Turkey and Armenia still don't have normal relationships. The last I checked they don't have relationship at all. One of the reasons to this because Turkey still did not except that what happened 95 years ago was genocide. Is there relevance now, you still don't see it ?

Potobac. So whats up with the turkish gov. refusning to call it a genocide? 1.5 million armenians dead sounds like a genocide in my ears.

Any concerns about the 20 million persecuted Kurds? No.

So Turkey has now been added to the list of countries who hate Israel. I see a pattern evolving between the international community, Iran and Israel. Its just a matter of time before Iran and Israel are forced to become friends because everyone else hates us. You know, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Whatever happened to the Armenians happened 95 years ago under a different Turkish government which was overthrown. What relevance has that got to do with the Turks of today? Everyone involved (including that government) is long dead.

The headline should be another Islamic Group goes wild. The courts shouldn't even reconize these idiots.

I can't uderstand why Israel doesn't play the same game. Issue warants agaist Palestiian leadership for war5 crimes. Firing rockets with specific goal of hitting civilians. Preachig hate and geocide. I believe Abbas was ivolved i the murder of Israle athleats in Munich. Warants against Turkey for abuse and destruction of Kurdish minority, bombing Kurdish civilian refugees. Charges for the murder of 1,500, 000 Armenias for which they never apologized. File charges agaist every country in Europe for murder, persecution, pogroms agaist the Jews for the past 1000 years. I'm sure there are many more thingS for which Israel can issue warrents in International courts. Start playig the Palestinian game until they and their supporters get tired of it. Might even charge some of the left wing Palestinian supporters with aiding and abetting murder and assisting in committing genoside

Such a hero,he helped remove a roadblock in the WB,and the Israeli "war criminals" let him escape alive.I wonder what would happen to him,would he do an equivalent act in any moslem country,in turkey or in iran.Matter of fact,I wonder what would happen to him in the USA.I know for sure that in Brazil he would be singing like a soprano.Nice try abdullah,the hero...

"An Islamic human rights group..." The fist few words of this article should start everyone laughing.

the hypocrisy is overwhelming !!!

In reality Turkey is a safe heaven for internationaly wanted criminals like Omer Al Bashir. As you know Sudan's president is being accused for crimes against humanity and Genocide of the people of Darfur and there is an arrest warrant for him. He is only welcomed at few Islamic states and also in Turkey. Last year he was welcomed twice on red carpet in Turkey. On the other hand so far there are no arrest warrants for any of the Isareli leadership.

Just because MazlumDer an ultra islamist organization with close ties to the ultra Islamist government can do that does not mean democratization. Todaty in Turkey ther are hundreds of intellectuals, journalists, medical doctors, lawyers etc in detention in jails with no charges for months some even years under a mythhical case called ergenekon. Yhe only reason is that they oppose the current government. Telephones are illegaly monitored and even private information being leaked to the press for those who oppose the government, by the government tied whistleblowers. The Dogan Media group has been unfailrly fined 5 Billion dollars because they oppose the government. The second larget Sabah is owned by th eson in Law of the PM. Turkey has lost its advances in democracy under the AKP government.

Salaam/Shalom

Oh boo hoo, what a loss. The Israeli tourists world is getting smaller and smaller. And no one cares. Salaam/Shalom

The time for Diplomacy by video Skype has come: Turkish representative sitting in Istanbul on a VERY HIGH chair with two (2) Turkish flags and honor guard. Adon Barak in TA at the beach is half reclined on VERY LOW lounger with Monica Levinsky as a secretary. Nobody is arrested and diplomacy is advanced.

1.5 MILLION ARMENIANS slaughtered, serve it to them. This Turkey Jerk Erdogan is really begging for a major pull out of anything that is left of humane civilization & leaving the vil Turkey's despair like in Syria, Iran, Lebanon... Shame that he is leading his people back in mid-evil times. Time for a Leadership Change

Ahaha Turkish people are funny, a former Tyran, that murdered millions all around the world and still butcher Kurds today dares taking a stand on Human Rights, it is like the Nobel price it doesn't mean anything anymore! Turks can go into their sauna (guys only) and enjoy their discussion about Human rights, btw isn't human rights the reason they cannot get into the E.U... and what about the Armeniens they are not human, were they not masacred?

Yes, yes, but will they also prosecute those Turks responsible for the Armenian genocide?? I know such people of "good faith" want only to do what's right..being people of good conscience.

The absence of Israelis tourists doesn't change a dot & slash to Turkiye Tourisme income , let it be known clearly that the majority of Turks don't give a shit to join born-dead European union , take Greece for example , TURKIYE will stick toward a Turkic union with ex USSR republics , then reinforcing a Pan Arab strict cooperations in all fields , this is our right address , one day will come for sure and the EU will beg TURKIYE to join the union , but alas " les jeux s'ont fait , riens va plus " let Europe go to Hell , and you stop coming to visite TURKIYE .

Let Justice ring from Gaza to Turkey Let Justice ring from Gaza to UK Let Justice ring from East Jerusalem to the Hague. Let Justice ring from West Bank to USA Let freedom & Justice ring in the occpuied Palestinian Territories against Occupation and War Crimes.... Thanks Martin Luther King, Thanks....

They should shut up because turks's hands are bloody from armenian genocide and recent killing Kurds women and children.

Actally Turkey is a safe heaven for charged criminals. Ther are only a few Islamic countries where Sudan's Omar El Bashir is wellcome plus Turkey. As you know ther is an arrest warrant for him and he should be arrested when spotted. Turkey welcomed him twice last year on red carpet. Furthermore PM Erdogan told the press that in his visit to Sudan and darfur he did not see any killings. As far as Israel's leadership; so far none has any official charges against them and no arrest warrants.

As long as it's going to the trouble of shedding crocodile tears for Gazans perhaps the human rights group in Turkey could shed a few for the victims of its own country's aggression in Cyprus: http://www.hri.org/Cyprus/Cyprus_Problem/Turkish-Atrocities.html When will courts in Britain, Europe, and elsewhere issue arrest warrants for Turkish leaders?

Meanwhile we hear silence on Hamas' war crimes. I have seen the videos of Hamas fighters grabbing children off the street to use as human shields, their use of ambulances to transport arms and terrorists, and the use of mosques, schools and hospitals as military installations. All of this violates international law. And what of their shelling of Sderot? Hamas started the war. Hamas called for genocide against Jews (read their charter). Hamas is responsible.

No? I thought so.

"what this group say about armenian genocide in 1915" They'd say it was irrelevant.

You cannot be happy with the way your leaders are running business. People around the world are losing respect for you for being quiet. Don't you care? Please say you do.

Go for the helpless and innocent children who lost their lifes their homes their parents. Go Turkey! You are strong and courageous and you can make a difference for the weak and the helpless. Go Turkey! fight the criminal actions and break the criminal silence. Go Turkey Go! God bless you.

Hurray! One more country msy be joining the growing world community determined to hold war criminals accountable. Simon Wiesenthal would be proud. He was no fan of war criminals or those who sheltered them. Today, Turkey's eyes are being opened; tomorrow, the US. Israelis suspected of war crimes, ought to go to the UK or the Hague where they would certainly get a fair trial. If they did nothing criminal, they would merely be inconvenienced. Only the guilty need fear justice. Anticipating the usual replies, if I were to be indicted for war crimes, I would voluntarily go to the Hague or UK to clear my name. That's what innocent people do. War criminals run and hide. I have deliberately assisted in the removal of an Israeli roadblock on the WB. I also do all I can to truthfully and nonviolently incite all persons to oppose Israel's actions in Gaza and the WB. Go ahead and try to get me indicted.

the last Gaza war is nothing but legal trouble for Israel and the IDF, the victims will not rest until justice is served.

about armenian genocide in 1915. It would be interesting to hear their opinion.

Sell the best weapons to the Kurds. Face it Turkey is a turkey. Human rights in Turkey? Turkey invades Iraq..bombs villages, so bring them to court.

Most Turks believe that they would join the European Union within 15 years. The Europeans didn't wanted Romania, Bulgaria and Poland to join eighter. But it is not the people of Europe that decides that. It is their leaders who do it. And their leaders didn't asked their opinions, they simply accepted the Romanians, the Bulgarians and the polish people in the union. It's not about religion, it's all about money, commerce and prestige. If Europe want's to be a big player in the world, With Turkey they will have much more voice in international arena than without Turkey.

Stay where you're nobody needs the IL visitors in Turkiye, after all they all come and steal everything from the hotels like picktures from the walls or carpets, you people bring more harm than good.

I assume this is the same group that was silent during the misslile attacks on Sderot.

for ehud barak.turkish government good with ehud barak and leftist israelis.

genocide.

"Turkey wants to join the European Union so this new act doesn`t help gain status in that direction." Why not? They'll be doing the same as the UK, Belgium and Spain - so far. This should show that they now take human rights very seriously.

What Turks did for Arabs during OthoMan occupation every Arab knows and Qaida arised bty them because they were torturing Arabian muslims.

perhaps kissenger's law firm or anyone of a number of others...but not ayalon and lieberman

It was huge mistake to embarrass the ambassador. Instead Israel should have made a movie series on any private channel about genocide they committed. We would show not only the mass killing (which was truth) but also exaggerate a little bit and show that you were drinking your victims? blood. That would have been a proper response to Edrogan?s hateful campaign. Or maybe its allowed to humilate only the Jewish people?

Yes, the thousands and thousands that were killed by the Turks. Perhaps this "Human Rights" group can address this.

Maybe somebody should prosecute the turkish gouvernement for what they did to their own Kurdish and Alevi citizens and Greek Cypriots The Turks never accept any wrong doing like the israelis.

That the humiliation of the Ambassador for Turkey would change Erdogan's attitude towards Israel? Well, I for one congratulate Ayalon for one of the best pieces of siplomacy in modern times.

When is Israel going to wake up to the fact that Turkey is no longer our friend? Turkey has aligned itself with the dictators in Iran, Syria and Venezuela - doesn't that mean anything to the government in Jerusalem? Turkey is our ENEMY!!!!!! They have chosen to go down the path of radical Islam and its ANTI SEMITISM - being right is no longer what the Turkish government and its radical supporters strive for. Gul and Erdogan MUST go - get these radicals out of the leadership roles they hold and bring Turkey back to its senses. Unitl then, DO NOT TRAVEL to Turkey, DO NOT give them one shekel of Jewish money. Let them go to hell along with their terror loving friends.

Fundamentalism will stop Israelis from visiting Turkey and not too soon. Turkey wants to join the European Union so this new act doesn't help gain status in that direction.

10 years ago this wasn't possible. Turkey is making progress on human rights and on their legal system. If they continue with the progress then they may join the European Union.