World will likely support Turkey’s moves against Israel
Supporting legal actions against Israel by families of the raid victims in Turkish and international courts, and appealing to International Court of Justice against the blockade of Gaza could have far-reaching effects.
By Zvi Bar'el Tags: Israel Turkey Gaza flotilla anti-IsraelThe expulsion of Israel's ambassador from Ankara and downgrading of diplomatic ties to the level of second secretary could turn out to be the lightest of the sanctions Turkey intends to impose on Israel. Supporting legal actions against Israel by families of the victims of the 2010 naval commando raid of the Mavi Marmara, in both Turkish and international courts, and appealing to the International Court of Justice against the blockade of the Gaza Strip could prove to be much more powerful. The former could affect the foreign travel plans of Israeli officers and decision makers, while the latter would move the Gaza issue from the local arena, where Israel maintains a relative advantage, to the international stage, which has not as yet interfered in Israeli policy vis-a-vis Gaza.
Turkey is judged likely to gain international support for its actions against Israel, in light of its climb in status in the global community in recent weeks. Contributing to Ankara's rising star are its harsh criticism of the Assad regime in Syria, despite heavy pressure from Iran; its cooperation with Libya's provisional government, and its support of the revolution in Egypt. Turkey's consent to the deployment of early warning radar, part of a NATO missile-defense system whose undeclared purpose is to protect Europe from Iranian missiles, is particularly important in this regard. The decision signals Turkish commitment to its alliance with NATO in general and to the United States in particular, deflecting the "accusation" that Ankara is turning away from the West and toward the East - that is, toward Tehran. It is Israel that may have to pay a price for Turkey's growing ties with the West and Ankara's decision to refuse Russia's entreaties to reject the radar deployment on its territory.
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Pro-Palestinian Turks protest out the home of Israel's ambassador to Turkey following the deadly raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, on Tuesday June 1, 2010. |
| Photo by: AP |
But Turkey's demand that Israel apologize, compensate the victims and lift the Gaza blockade is rooted primarily in Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's obligation to his electorate. It has become a common, uniting, national denominator, an integral part of Turkey's national prestige and its domestic policy.
The concept of national prestige has also trapped Israel, which on at least two occasions rejected a skillfully crafted apology to Turkey due to the objections of Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Vice Prime Minister Moshe Ya'alon.
Turkey is not an enemy state. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu emphasized that Ankara's actions are a result of the policies of the Netanyahu government and are not intended to hurt the Israeli or Jewish people. He called on the Israeli government to amend its mistakes, which he said were not constructive to the remarkable friendship between Turkey and the Jewish people.
Davutoglu's remarks in effect are a declaration that Turkey sees the sanctions as a means of changing Israeli policy rather than as a policy or strategy in themselves. They place all the options for action in Israeli hands and emphasize Turkey's desire to maintain relations with Israel despite the enormous disagreement between the states.
Egyptians yesterday celebrated the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador from Turkey. In a headline, Al-Masry Al-Youm termed the action a "lesson that Turkey taught Egypt" - an allusion to what Cairo should have done in the wake of last month's attack near Eilat. To keep relations with Egypt from deteriorating further, Jerusalem must put aside its "national prestige" and apologize for killing five Egyptian soldiers while responding to the terror attack near the Egyptian border.
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The Palmer report itself vindicated Israel to a great extent and Israel already said that compesation is available. Just no apology given the legality of the blockade and the complicity of Turkey, The IHH and several activists aboard the boat. The problem with Turkey is that since they are complicit it would be hard to acces either criminal of civil damages to Turkey. The courts are not the venue for a apology either. The courts can access only monitary damage or criminal penalty. Neither is likely.
Turkey isn't popular with the west.
That ruling would take years. Leftists are being voted out of power.
only some governmants not
The world must stand up for the Kurds and inform the world of Turkey's war crimes.
As the world once again turns away from Israel.. the bible prophecies had predicted this as we head towards Armageddon... Those who stand with Israel also stand with the Lord.. those against stand with Satan and his minions !
Israel will have the support of Greece,Bulgaria,Romania,Armenia,Cyprus and other non jihadist states.
But no to turkey. It is the Turkish gov who should apologize and pay compensation o the Turkish families
The leadership has FAILED. Turkey is right. Time to change it's nasty, problematic, ways. The leaders have been arrogant and WRONG for Israel.
Turkey doesn't have a problem with 20 million Kurds who lives in Turkey and fully integrated in to Turkish society. In fact 4 out of 9 who got MURDERED on Mavi Marmara by Israelis was Kurds. 13.5 Million Kurds voted for Erdogan at the last election. Turkeys problem is PKK terrorist killers not KURDS.
good on the turkish leadership for cutting ties with the murderous israhelli bastards
Why doesn't he start Ashura celebrations and whip himself to blood in public !
Turkey wants to send ships to break the Gaza blockade? Board and storm. If they send warships, have the Israeli Navy and Air Force sink them. "Never again".
Turkey wants to send ships to break the Gaza blockade? Board and storm. If they send warships, have the Israeli Navy and Air Force sink them. "Never again".
I think you better have a quick look at the disparity in size and capabilities between the Turkish navy and the Israeli navy......
or traitorous. Either way the faster it goes out of business the better.
this crazy, crooked world of information/news. Guess you like the one way, controlled news.
Really?? What has Isreal ever done that was so bad to warrant attacks from every angle on it"s people? The bus bomings, the resturant bomings, shelling over the wall? Israel has every right to life and to defend itself. Imagine you live in fear daily if you are going to be blown up on a bus or in a disco tech!!! Come on people, human rights! BAsic human rights: the right to live without being blown up. The people in the middle East need to get a new hobby; X Box, model rail roads, something other than hatered towards the Israelies, - HELLO THERE IS MORE TO LIFE!!!!
Israel, You assume that people who disagree with right-wing Likud policies are anti-Israel... a bit disingenuous, don't you think???
Its so easy to condemn a policy without providing a solution. Zvi should propose a solution or be quiet.
The solution is obvious: make peace, follow the Oslo accords which were signed ages ago, apologise immediately when you are wrong. Simple.
I support Israel and will not travel to Istanbul anymore. I love usa and my homeland by rights. Turkey wont get my liras n e more.
Turkey has been a great ally to Israel. If you love Israel, you should treat your friends better, or risk losing them. It's not just Turkey that has lost patience with right wing Israeli policies; it's most of Europe as well.
Fact: The jew borders have expanded since 1948. Where did this extra land come from? Stolen and the jews justified the thievry. Palestinian history is being destroyed while we get another holocust movie every yr.
The League of Nations in 1922 ruled that the "Jewish National Home" is all the land west of the Jordan river. But in 1947 the UN contravened the League of Nations decision of 25 years prior, to give the Arabs a SECOND state in Palestine. Jordan was the first. Israel's eastern border was negotiated with Jordan in 1994! If the Arabs living between the Jordanian border and the 1949 Armistice lines want another state, it will have to be on Israel's terms!
No exceptions.
How odd it is that given their choice people would choose to side with terrorists vs Israel--whom a study of history will reveal has never done much to hurt anybody. The terrorists could always opt to not shoot missiles, or fire mortars into Israel--had they never done this in the first place Israel would have never occupied a square inch of territory. However it has been observed that very few rockets are fired from territory occupied by Israel. Incidentally, Israel remains the only democracy in the Middle East, the only country where women are encouraged to become educated, and the only country where any of the many sorts of Islam are allowed to worship as they choose. In the beginning, Israel was structured to allow all to live together and settle their issues by voting--and within the first twenty-four hours of her existence six Muslim nations had declared war on her.
Maybe if you looked at things more objectively, you wouldn't think honest people are terrorists.
Egypt was an accident, friendly fire, due to non state actors. Turkey was a state sponsored act of terrorism using a proxy. No one apologizes for being the victim of state sponsored terrorism. You never say sorry to the state sponsor, never happens and never will. That's loony toon logic. If they think they can come down here and flex their military muscle, then we will go up there and position for strategic denial of the Dardanelles and force them on to two fronts, with Abraham Two. We need to make clear that aggressive actions will not be tolerated so for cold peace Israel will require force projection. Thank god for the economic crisis, lease or buy an island, the fanatical regime in Ankara needs to be contained, and that will be the offensive defensive line. What is more Israel can sell Greece high grade military equipment at reduced prices so they can protect their energy claims as part of the payment. If Turkey thinks that it is beyond Israel's ability to establish a base and that one day they will not wake up and see the Star of David swaying in the wind they have made a big mistake.
Egypt was an accident, friendly fire, due to non state actors. Turkey was a state sponsored act of terrorism using a proxy. No one apologizes for being the victim of state sponsored terrorism. You never say sorry to the state sponsor, never happens and never will. That's loony toon logic. If they think they can come down here and flex their military muscle, then we will go up there and position for strategic denial of the Dardanelles and force them on to two fronts, with Abraham Two. We need to make clear that aggressive actions will not be tolerated so for cold peace Israel will require force projection. Thank god for the economic crisis, lease or buy an island, the fanatical regime in Ankara needs to be contained, and that will be the offensive defensive line. What is more Israel can sell Greece high grade military equipment at reduced prices so they can protect their energy claims as part of the payment. If Turkey thinks that it is beyond Israel's ability to establish a base and that one day they will not wake up and see the Star of David swaying in the wind they have made a big mistake.
Isreal is just going down, give it till the muslims around isreal wake up n isreal would be out fast. Palestine forever
Turkey should just call the Germans!
is that Palestinian militants staged a deadly attack on Israel from Egyptian territory and continue to launch rockets from the Gaza strip. All the groveling in the world is not going to prevent the upcoming terror attacks, retaliation, and fallout. Unless Israel is prepared to accept these persistent attacks on its territory as the price of "friendship" with Turkey and Egypt, there is no need to apologize for either the flotilla or the border incident. In this part of the region, the sharks can smell the blood in the water.
in Thanksgiving before I eat the Turkey
No matter what anyone says, Turkeys IS trying to hurt Israel by lobbying for the lifting of the Gaza embargo... Arms in gaza can only hurt Israel. This is the old Quranic irrational hatreds rearing its ugly head.... Only Muslim nations and governments call for hurting (and eventually destroying) Israel. Israel and India (now thw US) are at the forefront of the Muslim Jihad.... and it IS that. To give an inch to Muslims .. is to then be handed a demand for the entire 100 miles.
Bye-Bye- Erdie~ hot turkey on rye with mustard....yum.
I didn't make it to the football game today. Missed all those cheers.
They would sell their own parents to attack Israel. Haaretz should be ignored.
Need one word modifier "Muslim World will likely support Turkey's move"
Turkey started this by trying to supply weapons to terrorists, and the world will support her???...only terrorists support Turkey's stand in this.
your leaders your idf child killers will not be traveling soon all idf in canada will be identified apartheid israel is already paying now pay more
Netanyahu is either very smart or very stupid. I guess, time will tell. Thus far, he has done nothing but isolate his country. His policies, along with his histrionic foreign minister, are not working...
Netanyahu is either very smart or very stupid. I guess, time will tell. Thus far, he has done nothing but isolate his country. His policies, along with his histrionic foreign minister, are not working...
Turkey is not risking much as Europe and the US are and will continue to hold it at arms length (while wishing for longer arms). At some point they will find themselves at a disadvantage by pursuing an radical anti-Israel policy.
I do not know you guys/gals but I happened to be in one of the Gazza aid collections tents set by the municipality in Fatiih, Istanbul, Turkey. I was terrified once I saw that the most of the tent workers were preparing themselves for Martyrdom either on the way to Gazza or in Gazza. At that moment I did not know how this could be accomplished. When I was questioned what type of humanitarian aid preparation it was, I was shown tgh gate of the tent and accused of being an enemy of Muslims. After the Mavi Marmara event I understood what they meant. In my consciousness, the flotilla and particularly Mavi Marmara was up o something, something bad, very bad. Their purpose was never humanitarian but something else with the knowledge of our government authorities, perhaps at the lover levels. IN my opinion the Turkish government failed to protect their citizens by not taking preventive measures and deliver the aid as aid to the proper ports saving those 9 lives. Our Islamist AKP government has been using this event to establish a neo Ottoman empire in the region. Our Government and AKP"s utopian moves potentially cost hundreds of lives in the region. Their one of the aims is to elevate their position to highre levels in the arab world and satisfy themselves as Neo Ottomans. If ever happens I do not think Israel's aplogy will help establishing peace in the region, but increase the tension levels of mad politics.
never heard such a load of bull
and mickie mouse filmed the whole event....
This account seems very credible from what I have heard.
Wishful thinking is a poor substitute for common sense
to bear the Turkish threats. Israel is second. Syria and Israel, together at last. Perhaps an alliance between the two aimed at the Turks?
Who are engaged in fantasy and wishful thinking. There are few in the world who think that Israel had to kill people. That Israel has dealt with several subsequent attempts to break the blockade without killing anyone proves that. The world is not upset with Turkey. No one is terrified that the leaders of Turkey are madmen who are irresponsible, incorrigible and desperate enough to start a war upon impulse and to protect their careers. Netanyahu, Barak and Leiberman have alienated the world and put Israeli in a dangerously isolated position.
Man, talk about the pot calling the kettle black....
Why not? The Alawites are most certainly looking for friends.
You write as if Turkey can hold Israel hostage. It will contribute to Erdogan's megalomania. If Israelis championed the Kurdish cause as much as the Turks champion the plight of people in Gaza, there would not have been this soul-searching on your part! Wake up. Take a good look at your neighborhood. Or read this: http://www.change.org/petitions/the-us-senate-help-us-emancipate-the-kurds-and-liberate-kurdistan
Yet more hypocrysy from a another despotic islamic regime. Turkey has 10000 political prisoners behind bars and would slit the nthroqt of every Kurd given the opportunity.
It is about the flotilla and the unnecessary deaths of civilians. No reason to point fingers at other problems.
Why doesn't Israel bring turkey before the ICJ or charge Turkish officials for crimes against the Kurds?
wait a moment. We have a right to survive. We have a right to defend ourselves. We have a right to a secure state with secure, defensible boundaries. Selling out Israel at every opportunity to do so. Makes millions of us in Israel and around the world sick.
Right of self defense does not include shooting activists in the back and at close range. Read the report !!!
And that includes people in Gaza. Israelis think only of their own rights and not the rights of others that they trample underfoot. Turkey is standing up for the rights of Gazans. It's about time someone did.
Then why do you put up with the incompetent and arrogant Netanyahu government which caused this debacle and is not manly enough to take the blame for it's screw up? The issue has never been Israel's right to enforce the blockade, the Issue is how idiotically the Netanyahu government acted. The subsequent actions of the Netanyahu goverment PROVE that there was NO NEED for bloodshed. Rather the idea of lethal military force was the first and incompetent response of men who are too cowardly and craven to accept the blame and absolve the nation they betrayed for their own egos and careers.
Yes, Israel does have a right to secure and defensible borders - as does Palestine. The remedy is a timely adoption of the 1967 (with agreed and minor swaps of land) line as the Israeli border. But your right to secure and defensible borders does not mean that Israel can continue its occupation of the W/B or its control of the people living in the W/B. Turkey under Erdogan is acting morally. Its about time someone stood up to Israel.
Turkey murders Kurds left and right, 40,000 in the last ten years. They portray Israelis on TV as vampires and werewolves. Definitely have the moral upper hand, eh? The fact is, Turkey enabled the flotilla. They financed the IHH thugs. They are the ones responsible for the violence. Turkey's commitment to NATO? Not one Turkish combatant in Afghanistan, they won't raise a finder against fellow Muslims. What is this insane handwringing and breast beating?
These are astute observations.
Get ready for the Likkudniks to trash everything about Turkey. In the US, AIPAC, WINEP, and all the other Israeli propaganda groups will pull out all the stops to gain traction with the US government quite like they did after the Goldstone Report was released.
Maybe that apology wasn't such a crazy idea after all......
Thanks Zvi for putting things in perspective again. Some of the comments here seem to be out of context. The same Erdogan that is considered a Jew hater or Israel tried hard to make peace in between Israel and Syria. Remember, Olmert was in Turkey just two days before the operation cast lead against Gaza started. And Erdogan was still honestly talking to Olmert about peace...must have been so difficult for Olmert not to laugh at him. What Erdogan found out was that the Israeli politicians didn't want peace plus couldn't be trusted either. His interest in Iran and Syria were for peace in the region and it actually made those countries less likely to attack Israel. And now Erdogan for the same principal is turning against Syria, Iran and Israel. So from the Turkish perspective it is Israel that is with Iran and Syria. How ironic that must be.
Haaretz will support any and all of Israel's enemies, at least until Tel Aviv is hit by missles and the cafes have to close down. Turkey decided long ago to cozy up to Assad and Iran: it's the Islamist way, dontcha know.
they are possible anti semite, terror supporters, friend of Iran, what else.. enemy of the state also... how low we can go G_d knows - just we like to shot the massenger. Thank you Harretz for "reporting" the truth let the readers make their own mind.
Turkey is becoming a huge player in the region, and it would not be prudent to destroy relations with it. Israel needs to be machiavellian, in the sense that it has to take the best possible course of action, regardless of ideology or personal beliefs. Apologize to Turkey, it will help more than hurt.
don't. this is a blessing. israel should never have opened an embassy in a country that refuses to acknowledge the armenian genocide and is now STILL pursuing the cultural genocide of the kurds. need more information, read this: http://www.change.org/petitions/the-us-senate-help-us-emancipate-the-kurds-and-liberate-kurdistan
The Turks sent a flotilla into an Israeli war zone. Israeli commandos boarded one of the boats and were attacked by armed militants. And for this the Israelis are supposed to apologize? Simply ridiculous. Just like the U.S. should apologize for killing Bin Laden, right?
it was also found in one report that the egyptian border guards saw the terrorists and did little to stop them... whether true or not - agreed that there may be an apology to egypt, but why ankara? maybe say "sorry people died" but no apology for the raid on the ship, a ship breaking a legal blockade... why hasn't turkey apologized to Iraq for entering their territory and bombing kurds? b/c why should they? they're acting on their "national security" interests... whether right or not, it's hypocritical. this whole apologize scenario is childish and futile
" it's hypocritical. this whole apologize scenario is childish and futile "..... but indicative of the crumbling status quo, the long standing pretense that government actions should never be questioned. A new generation is coming of age and is beginning to make severe demands of governments, demands which originate in strange and unusual places, which don't give a damn whether the blockade is legal or not, just that it is inhuman. It is a new set of priorities that is sweeping across nations.
An israeli that understands our anger at the murder of 9 turks and blockadeof gaza
...and they didn't. Not very "thug-like", was it?
And there would have been no reason for the passengers to attack the IDF had they not embarked on attacking the passengers first by shooting live rounds into the heads of turks from above before hitting the deck of the vessel. Don't dodge the truth.
And there would have been no reason for the passengers to attack the IDF had they not embarked on attacking the passengers first by shooting live rounds into the heads of turks from above before hitting the deck of the vessel. Don't dodge the truth.
They didn't shoot the Turks in the back and head with paintball guns...
Focus on actions, not words. Turkey sent the Mavi Marmara. It demanded the end of the blockade along with the apology. It rejected offers of regret and compensation. Now it expelled the Israeli ambassador. These are all actions Turkey has taken against Israel. Ignore the words. Follow the same actions only approach to Turkish policy in Syria and Iran. Turkey talks tough on Syria but does nothing. Syria makes noises about working to stop the Iranian nuclear program, but does nothing.
Just when you think it can't possibly be buried any deeper, he proves that it can!
That they fool NO one with their little fairy tales and lies - and that it is THEY who do most to delegitimitize Israel in international eyes.
The level of complete stupidity in the Israeli government is absolutely astounding!
The two main stumbling blocks were always Ya'alon and Lieberman. Ya'alon is a man with a very small brain, and Lieberman is a man with a very thick skull. So, yeah, while the Israeli behaviour is astounding it is not particularly surprising, precisely because if you appoint clowns to your cabinet then your govt is sure to be a circus.
France is going right to as their next leader will be pro israel. The world is moving to pro israel leaders.