Zvi Bar'el / Israel is engaging in gangster diplomacy

...nuance. Very well done.

yay... you still say "the islamist" government of erdogan pulled turkey on an anti-israel track for last 2 years. poor erdogan is blamed for being too pro-israel for 8 years in turkey. by the way, did you noticed that after cast lead and lieberman israel lost her support from all over the world. even us is not supporting you that much anymore. can this be a message about sth. maybe about israel's acts and israelis' political trends... think about it.

That the Turks who not only performed genocide but still refuse to admit it should preach morals to anyone is a joke.They could gain respectability and equivalence with Israel, only in the fevered mind of a hack like the one who wrote this mess

Here are two quotes for fair-minded and honest truth-seekers: First, The Jewish Times, June 21, 1990: "?An appropriate analogy with the Jewish Holocaust could be the systematic extermination of all the Moslem population in the Republic of Independent Armenia, which represented at least 30 to 40 % of the total population of this republic..." Second, the Israeli President and 1994 Nobel Peace Prize winner Shimon Peres Turkish Daily News, April 10, 2001, Ankara, Turkey: "...We reject attempts to create a similarity between the Holocaust and the Armenian allegations. Nothing similar to the Holocaust occurred. It is a tragedy... what the Armenians went through, but not a genocide." Armenian genocide allegations cannot be substabtiated by historical evidence and there is no court verdict, a la Nuremberg, ruling it a genocide. Such claims make a mockery of the six T?s of Turkish Armenian conflict and facts like Armenian revolts, treason, terrorism, territorial demands and Tereset. It is ethocidal, dishonest and cruel, if not also racist, to manipulate and falsify others' tragedies of yesterday, to settle your political scores of today, as that would mean allowing hatred to hijack our tomorrow.

On the recognition of the "alleged" Armenian genocide, let us allow a scholar who researched it most of his life, a historian from Princeton, someone we all know, Prof. Bernard Lewis. This is what he said on the American TV C-SPAN 2, 25 March, 2002: ??Saying that the massacre of the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire was the same as what happened to Jews in Nazi Germany is a downright falsehood. What happened to the Armenians was the result of a massive Armenian armed rebellion against the Turks, which began even before war broke out, and continued on a larger scale. Great numbers of Armenians, including members of the armed forces, deserted, crossed the frontier and joined the Russian forces invading Turkey. Armenian rebels actually seized the city of Van and held it for a while intending to hand it over to the invaders. There was guerilla warfare all over Anatolia. There is clear evidence of a decision by the Turkish Government, to deport the Armenian population from the sensitive areas. Which meant naturally the whole of Anatolia. Not including the Arab provinces which were then still part of the Ottoman Empire. There is no evidence of a decision to massacre. On the contrary, there is considerable evidence of attempt to prevent it?"

Islamic fundamentalists put Turkey on the path of oblivion. I really pity all the decent people of Turkey (and there are many). Unless they can wrestle the country back, these religious nuts will start the murders again, like they did murder Armenian and Kurd civilian populations before.

We all know that the 1st war lost by Israel will mean the destruction and removal from the Middle East. Since 1947 the scenario has been the same. Arab countries en masse attacking Israel..... pre 1967 "OCCUPATION". In other words the Arab countries refused THEN and NOW to allow Israel to exist. It has nothing to do with occupation...and it never did.

Had the Palestinians chosen the road to peacefully build Gaza...this would have put tremendous pressure on the Israeli government internally from the left as well as the rest of the world countries including the USA to now start to remove the settlements and roadblocks from the West Bank. Israel would have had no choice but to make more concessions. I cannot change your minds in reference to your attitude towards Israel but you have to admit that the choice taken by Hamas after the Gaza pullout led the the Cast Lead operation and set back the hope for a Palestinian state to an unknown future date.

For decades the cry was to get Israelis out of Gaza. In 2005 the government and the IDF forced the settlers out of Gaza. Basically Gaza was an "unoccupied" territory. At that time the Palestinian population was at a crossroads. Take Gaza and peacefully build it up as needed for the people and future generations or use Gaza as a firing range now closer to other Israeli civilian populations. Hamas made the decision for the people. Fire at will. After about 2 years of this firing at will the IDF retalliated. Since then it has been quieter than ever before.

Dear Zvi Bar'el ...I am sorry but what turks do in the past do not show and do no mean what Israel does is right now... Israel must put itself in order or otherway it will loose its right for existance in middle east. Only one war that Israel is defeated is enough for Israel to loose its existance in ME. (Remember last time in Lebonan...) So be nice and smart...

High time for Turkey to adress the issues of Armenia and the war with the Kurds.Only then can they sit in a chair higher than Israel...

Steve Why did you bomb Gaza last time dear ? Did Palestenians send the rockets last time again to you ? I am sorry :) but No! they did not... You bombed because you like it as a spoiled behaviour...That is the thing that Turkey is going to change in you for sure. And The Israelis like you should stop killing of innocent babies instead of to use diplomacy to camouflage that..Otherway everbody will see which county is going to be ruined. 72 million muslim Turkey or Israel...Dont you think that you have enough muslim enemy ?

I would just like to reiterate once again be-fore there was gangster diplomacy there were gangsters and nothing epitomizes this in mind than the IDF's invasion of the territories in 1967. I am enclosing an award winning video below of an eye witness account of how the soldiers terrorized the local population by shooting people on sight, burning or demolishing their homes & poisoning their wells -all the while people are screamimng for them to stop. Of course, the other shocking truth there as Abu Sitta's reveals in his reconstruction of the events of 1948 Zionist gangs did pretty much the same then only this time it involved the fleeting of 3/4 million terrified Palestin-ians. Now how anyone can go on saying the IDF is a moral army is not dealing with reality , esp. when one considers its origns were gang members and gang leaders and the same lawless behavior is found in the 1967 war, the 1948 uprooting & eye witness reports from Lebanon '06 and Gaza 2009 Dutch http://www.alternatefocus.org/SittaShow.html

As Barel knows very well. We are an ignorant, backward country, similar to Arabs. Turkey is a country where the politicians and police do not respect their own citizens in the first place, just like the Arabs. Huge income gap is also like in Arab countries or Pakistan. Barel also knows that the real war in Turkey is fought on money (between Erdogan( and his money bosses) and the others such as Aydin Dogan and more importantly, Koc who, I guess, will be the next big target of Erdogan)). Barel also correctly pointed out that Israel has no morals in the sense that it would never criticize Turkey for a damage done to a third party. One thing is for sure, Turks hate Israel more than any time in the past, and this is mostly due to what Israel did in Gaza.

Turkey rejected the Idea of a partition plan of Palestine between Jews and Arab, so no, Turkey only recognized Israel after its existence became a status quo !! Israel owes nothing to Turkey !

ever apologized to either the Armenians or, the Kurds?

Mark Lincoln, maybe Bush was a gangster (a phrase which I reject), but Netanyahu was elected through well ordered ballots and he created his coalition which satisfied the most of the Israelis. The main rules and policies of his government are well accepted by the majority of the Israelis. Most of the Israelis ready to go further and compromise with the Palestinians, but know that there is no any Palestinian who is ready or can mobilize his people towards completion and acceptance of the existence of Israel. As for the Turks, Israel should keep hers close relations with the military and intellectuals Turk?s elite but create a new phase of dialogue with the fundamental Turk politicians ? to lower the profile of intimacy between both states, to talk gently with those among the politicians who consider Israel as ally and to neglect or talk boldly against politicians as Erdogan. And of course reject the Turkish attempts to operate as mediators between Israel and Syria. To accomplish mission I would suggest that some Israeli film company will create a new television series about the brutality of the Turks against other religions and national minorities living under their metal wings in the last centuries, showing the Turkish cruelty and Armenian / Kurd blood, and spread all around the world.

You are right. Stand up to Turkey for that anti-semitic, privately produced TV show being aired in Turkey. You and your Israeli brethren have, over the last several days, carried out the most successful pro-Palestinian propaganda campaign that any Palestinian (or Arab for that matter) could ever have conceived. Your comment is typical, irrelevant, and intellectually vacuous. The Israeli government performance, and the response of its citizenry to that performance has burned an image of Israel into the minds of the international community that will not soon be forgot. What other country would call in the Ambassador of another country, and berate and humiliate him over the subject of a film showing in his country that the host government didn't like. Can you imagine the US, or any sophisticated government doing that? In most capitals there wouldn't be any more ambassadors. The Israeli performance has proved Israel to be a tacky, 3rd world, banana republic with missiles.

The government of Israel is playing to the wishes of the voters who put them in power. For Netanyahu nothing is more important than his name on the PNO's door and to ensure his name is on that door he is prepared to make a pact with the devil. Hence Lieberman is Foreign Minister of Israel, arguably the second most important post in Israel.

on armchair diplomacy

Reading Bar'el brings in some very solid analysis, expressions and reasoning such as: "If Israel had wanted to behave morally, it would have demanded, as the United States has, that its technology not be used in a war against civilians." (Z.B., 17012010) Well, this reasoning implies that: 1. The USA is developing, producing and selling means (technologies) capable of harming civilians. 2. If you have USA technologies and civilians came for a kill, you are not allowed to use these technologies to save your life. 3. Unless otherwise specified, only the USA has the right and is allowed to use these technologies against civilians. 4. If you have similar technologies but these were not purchased from the USA, you are then allowed to use such technologies against civilians. Simple logic amidst a brave article where words are put into proper context.

another one from Enron board... The only detriment Bush's "Junta" ever had is not enough time to get your ilk in prison with time of apporpriate duration. To you Bush was not just "Junta". He is your living nightmare, front and centre.

Diplomacy: 1 : the art and practice of conducting negotiations between nations 2 : skill in handling affairs without arousing hostility The very meaning of the word 'diplomacy' has been forgotten and rejected by the Netanyahu government. To the current government of Israel diplomacy is just a weapon to be used to beat up and chase off other nations. Their goal is not to use 'skill in handling affairs without arousing hostility.' Rather their goal IS to arouse hostility. What will the world's response be after they have alienated every nation which does not kow-tow to their every whim? What will the world do when they turn the West Bank into another Gaza? The Netanyahu gang clearly thinks the world will take their gratuitous aggressions without response. Acting like Juvenile delinquents may amuse and hearten their political followers, but it is certain to do egregious damage to Israel if it continues.

Gangsters are members of an organization of thugs.

"Mr. Netanyahu is not immature. Let him show he is fit to lead." - sh He IS leading Israel and in exactly the direction he wishes. Mr. Netanyahu and his chosen Foreign Minister Mr. Lieberman are doing what they please without fear of interruption or opposition.

Americans are now trying to rebuild our relationships with the world after 8 years of having gangsters run our country. When any nations allows gangsters to run their country they will suffer the response to the actions of those gangsters. Israel's foreign policy head has never outgrown his days as a bar bouncer. He was a thug then and why should anyone expect him to change now? If I had hated America I would have cheered as the Bush Junta wrought havoc upon our nation, economy and the world. That what they were doing would take decades to undo, and that meanwhile the USA would be rapidly slipping into the past was obvious to all but the oblivious. Israel has chosen to have very similar thugs and gangster types run the country and their slash and burn policies will do Israel greater harm the longer they are able to do as they wish. As I could not cheer the damage done to America by Bush, Cheney and Rummy; I cannot cheer the harm being done to Israel by Netanyahu and Lieberman.

Yes I live in Canada which is a free and open society...but as a Jew living in a majority Christian country I have been crapped on. But I stand up for my rights. As far as Nablus or Bethlehem are concerned...I can tell you that when I visited Israel prior to the intifada... the Arab population had jobs and control of their lives....as much control as any group living under any government regulations. When the Pals grow a set of balls and elect a leader willing to accept YOU and other Jews(I assume you are an Israeli Jew )then life for both groups will flourish. Till then Israeli diplomats will have to twist and turn like all the other countries' diplomats.

with due respect to Israel's "national honour"!

I hear some voices here talking about Armenian genocide? But if they really want to see , they can see it was (of course, it was awful) some Rwandan play of others.. So, if the turks managed to downplay this kind of Play- is this such a crime? Anyway, thats not the point? it doesn?t matter now. I just want to say that I totally disagree with mr Ayalons stance ( and the like) ? firstly, it is not realistic, and secondly, it will not bring nothing good (it has no good end; its just a mess to profit some very few) Now,the turks expressed their critics openly. So, I think there?s a chance to get over this mess, by coming closer, or to defend aggressively the last position? To be more friends, or to get cold As I hope, and want- we will be more close after all this troubles What we were in the past- we are now, and I want to be so in the future, too Ps. I have nothing against mr Ayalon- he is a jew , even if he is wrong- I see him a friend, even in such messy circumstances.. Shalom to israeli friends

Hallo to my israeli friends I am Turkish and I want to express a few views I know that some unfriendly activities were conducted by some Israeli people? It was no response to these. But they are being put in public now? So , why don?t stop this kind of activities? Whats the problem here? You want to control your friends? But mr Erdogan says that what we were in the past, we are the same now?. So what has changed? Israeli power stance? Maybe Israel is powerful, but what to do then? Does Israeli people (because I always think the jews and turks are the real players) think that power will replace friends? Well, I doubt this? (personally, I love Israeli people- they are bright minded, not bad intended, close and very personal) You can live in whatever world you like- but some things you cant change? turks are not Nazis, and you cant expect them to act like so. I hear some voices here talking about Armenian genocide? But if they really want to see , they can see it was (of course, i

Stavros, reading your comment I can only conclude that all the greeks are very jelouse about Turkeys positive achivements with it's neigbours I would say.

Diplomacy, like the waltz, is a European thing and there is no earthly reason why Near and Middle Eastern peoples should be adepts.

We in US put our Japanese citizens into internment camps during World War2. Canada forcefully, converted Inuit kids to Catholicism and destroyed their language by removing them from their parents. France has been denying rights to Corsicans, Basques; British destroyed the cultural identity of Welsh and keep denying self determination to Northern Ireland. Russia is busy destroying minorities in Caucuses. Armenia refusing any linguistic and cultural rights to its Kurdish minority. Kurds in Northern Iraq refusing Turcoman cultural identity. Greece is refusing to recognize the separate identity of Turks and Macedonians; Spain is denying Basque their rights. Sweden has done its best to destroy the cultural identity of Lapps in Northern Sweden. China is busy destroying the cultural identity of Uighur Turks and Tibetans. Israel is busy with its own ethnic battle and colonization of Palestinians. So who has the moral ground to criticize Turkey?

Let?s analyze events well. PM Endogan when he first came to office, gave large stake in the privatization projects to Israeli companies and because of that he was criticized by the opposition in Turkey. Later ADL, a major Jewish lobby in USA gave him an award for being a good friend of Israel and then Israeli government requested from Endogan to mediate between them and Pakistanis and later Syrians. PM Endogan managed to arrange a meeting first of its kind between PM Olmert and the Pakistani President. But later, just as the talks between Syria and Israel was making a major progress which PM Olmert acknowledged, Israel pulled the rug under Erdogan without any notice, by attacking Gaza and making him look like a fool in front of the Turkish public opinion. Thus, came the Davos confrontation with Pres. Peres and later criticisms of Israel. But even then he never, ever took steps to tarnish relations between Turkey and Israel. Behind the scenes, business was usual. But he is a politician too, how far did Israel expect him to ignore the rising unease within the Turkish public opinion mainly stirred by anti Endogan media in Turkey?

If you want to know what it means to live your whole life being, as you put it, 'crapped on', you should move to Nablus or Bethlehem or even East Jerusalem. There you will experience the everyday humiliation, violence and oppression of the Israeli authorities and their accomplices the settlers. Living in far away Canada posturing about being victim would be funny if it weren't so sick: a statement of utter vanity and self-obsession.

The Gaza offensive came because Hamas waged terror war against Israel through the launch of thousands of rockets. Erdogan repeatedly and harshly criticizes Israel but turns a blind eye to Hamas' behaviour and to the fact that its terror slowed down only because of Israel military reaction and deterrence. The blockade of Gaza exists on both sides, the Israeli and also the Egyptian side, as long as radical organizations like Hamas and cohorts prefer to persevere in their terror war against their neighbour(s) rather than start useful friedly relations with him (them), as international laws require. Both Israel and Turkey aren't masters of morality, but neither Palestinians and Arabs are. It's important to keep in mind the whole picture, not only a single spot, as Erdogan and many critics fervently do. The way Israel reacted diplomatically wasn't appropriate, but it was the message: one-sided unbalanced criticism against Israel will not stay uncountered.

Erdoga's party was democratically elected on a clear platform which the Turkish people agreed with. As for Turkey's membership of NATO, that is not going to change anytime soon, and certainly not to placate Israel. Turkey is more strategically important tha Israel in the scheme of things.

sitting in the naughty chair. With all the news coming out of Haiti and Afghanistan. I needed a smile. Plus we will be able to package it up into an advert and use it as a marketing tool in the Moslem world. Buy British, blacklisted by Israel can be the tag line. And they have oil money.

The Gaza offensive came because Hamas waged terror war against Israel through the launch of thousands of rockets. Erdogan repeatedly and harshly criticizes Israel but turns a blind eye to Hamas' behaviour and to the fact that its terror slowed down only because of Israel military reaction and deterrence. The blockade of Gaza exists on both sides, the Israeli and also the Egyptian side, as long as radical organizations like Hamas and cohorts prefer to persevere in their terror war against their neighbour(s) rather than start useful friedly relations with him (them), as international laws require. Both Israel and Turkey aren't masters of morality, but neither Palestinians and Arabs are. It's important to keep in mind the whole picture, not only a single spot, as Erdogan and many critics fervently do. The way Israel reacted diplomatically wasn't appropriate, but it was the message: one-sided unbalanced criticism against Israel will not stay uncountered.

Remember the date the incident happened and the furore over an event that involved Israel that had taken place a little earlier that month? No need to even bother remembering the content of President Peres's smooth speech preceding Mr. Erdogan's fit of ire.

Maybe the self-hating Jews are in fact the Jews who call other Jews self-hating? Amongst the people who have been appointed to lead us, there are people who are either very immature or psychologically disturbed. In both cases there is but one remedy. When a car takes you backwards instead of forwards you thank your lucky stars the brakes still work and without further ado, exchange it for something that works properly. Mr. Netanyahu is not immature. Let him show he is fit to lead.

In his 2003 column the Israeli historian Avi Shlaim notes a memo to the foreign Secretary, in London 1948 from Sir John Troutbeck .... "In a memorandum to Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin dated June 2, 1948, Sir John Troutbeck held the Americans responsible for the creation of a gangster state headed by "an utterly unscrupulous set of leaders." http://www.fromoccupiedpalestine.org/node/785 No doubt this is what the Palestinian people have been dealing with for over the last 60yrs which the world is only waking up to now... Especially the Americans they are tracking your security services fingerprints and footprints all over the place and they are OUTRAGED... Israelis are heading for agoing out of business sale if they don't their asses out of things sooon and especially the territories. Dutch

Nevermind morally, an idiotic unprofessional stunt like that of Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon should have cost him his job- that would be the only correct apology. Diplomacy means acting diplomatic in public and getting things done behind the scenes. But in Israel's present government, diplomacy and professionality are abslotuely absent -only internal politics count. Netanyahu should have fired Ayalon on the spot, but of course that's not possible. A band of crooks all of them!

I must compliment you on the synthesis of the Jew-hater's world view in one concise, effective slogan. It advertises what you are in a way that renders all further discussion pointless.

Well well, Greece siding with the Turks now... and I thought I'd seen it all. I hope Stavros does not represent too many Greeks. The ones I've befriended in London have all been anti-Turk. Well you live and learn. Now watch out for Greek Cyprus, already half Moslem, soon might be all Moslem through Eurabia.

Many countries indeed can argue with Israel, you are right, and that's because its easy to blame a small democratic country. Try and argue with China about its' human rights attitudes, or Lybia or Venezuela for their lack of freedom(you'll find the price of oil jumping),or Sudan or Hizbolah/Lebanon , or Russia (and you'll find they'll side with babarian Iran ) or Algeria's Islamists killing their brothers or any Mulims killing Muslims, .....try that for a change.

Perfect comments Cipora. Thank you. Your message makes more realistic sense than the much incomplete analysis from Zvi Bar'el.

The past two years are easily forgotten when Israel ever tries to stand up for itself. Edrogan should apologize for his actions against Israel.

The supreme judge has direct descendence from Kaifah. Be careful PL, she is dangerous.

The real problem is that Edrogan is moving the countries alliances from West to East in support of his Islamist party. He does not condemn any attack perpetrated by Muslims and targets all propaganda against Israel. Turkey has been pushing hatred against Israel for at least two years now and I think they should apologize.

You see, I'm once again at one of my favourite topics, namely the (strong) connection between Israeli policies and anti-Jewish stereotypes around the world. If you guys would only be capable of a little bit more critical self-reflection in that regard....

ok, let's be honest, turkey has committed major atrocities against its people, and the kurds, armenians and greeks. with that said, turkey allies with those who share similar interests. both turkey and israel want to continue an illegal occupation (israel of palestine)(turkey of parts of kurdistan and syria). finally it appears that turkey is moving past the fog and rectifying its wrongs, thus leaving israel as the only bad student in detention.

If Israel is tired to hear the truth, there is an easy way out. The only thugs are the zionists. The way out goes through the door. The world is tired of righteous criminals. Change your behaviour you may be treated better. PS. no one is crapping on Jews, only on criminal zionists. Are you one? we are tired of you, and we are many more.

What else is new today?

your post should be addressed to the u.s. and to other nato allies. your inability to understand the point is indicative of your prejudiced mind.

It happens. Get used to it. Maybe one day even the US will get to the end of its tether with Israel.

I really enjoyed this article. Thanks! Now, is anybody taking count of the number of countries that Israel is getting into arguments with recently?

Why? Because, Turkey was the first country with a big muslim population to recognize Israel. Turkey fully supported Israel`s entity and its right of existance . In the exchange, Turkey was seen as a traitor in some Islam countries for many years. Right now, it has the right to ask Israel to change its agressive policies towards others.

A comment from Mark Steel, in the UK newspaper The Independent, about Israeli pronouncements during Cast Lead: "It?s the arrogance of the East End gangster, so it wouldn?t be out of character if the Israeli Prime Minister?s press conference began: 'Oh dear or dear. It looks like those Palestinians have had a little, er, accident. All their buildings have been knocked down ? they want to be more careful, hee hee.' " Seems he was waaaaaay ahead of you, Bar'el. What took you so long?

the present dispute with turkey is a result of the coming to power of erdogan's islamist party. erdogan's appalling behaviour with president peres at davos has nothing to do with morals. it has everything to do with his political sympathies. he has not condemned any of the multitude of terror attacks committed by muslims. the recent cancellation by erdogan of nato exercises was an irresponsible attempt to punish israel. howevr, the cancellation was a clear slap in the face for the united states and other nato allies. erdogan's rapprochement with iran, which cannot be considered moral under any circumstances, is also a slap for western interests, including those of israel. it would seem that turkey under erdogan's islamist party, might be re-shuffling its alliances. this seeming re-shufflement the real problem that needs to be discussed.

You know, it's a coalition government and there are many Israelis who don't support the party of Lieberman and Ayalon. Ayalon made a mistake, but that mistake doesn't reflect what all of Israel is doing. If it does, then I guess a TV series made by Turkey's opposition reflects upon all of Turkey. So do all of the public anti-Israel statements made regularly by Turkey's leadership.

...your elucidating column and President Obama calling that other President George W. Bush Jr. to help out with a humanitarian effort... Reality is setting in for many.

Oh! Wow! Zvi Bar'el leaves me absolutely speechless! LOOL!

Israel as a country is tired of being crapped on too. Better to stand up to thugs than continue to suffer everyone else's PR nightmares.

I honestly enjoyed reading this article because thats exactly how i see the current status in Israel. I encourage every isreali to raed this fine piece of work.

That Israel responded. What about when Edrogan walked out on a televised interview with the President of Israel that was not humiliating at all. What a stupid piece.

A very well written article. I can hardly wait for the responses which will call Mr. Bar'el a self-hating Jew.

Did you forget about the last two years where Turkey has been propogating hatred towards Jews and Israel. Did you forget about the basketball match between Turkey and Israel where the crowd chanted, Death to Jews and Death to Israel. Where was the apology? Where is Edrogan's appology for calling Perez a war criminal or his libels against Israel, or the latest TV series. Really who ever wrote this article is up side down historically.

The picture in Hurriyet of the AKP minister being humilitated, after they almost taxed Dogan out of business. Of course, there is no free speech in Turkey, when you tax newspapers out of business. Now they can't even show a t.v. show re: Israel. No free speech, unless you agree with the opposition. I am not so sure anyone but Dogan is happy at what you did to the Turkish minister. He is sure to have a minute of happiness before this saga ends somehow.

What a hoot! First, the Israeli calls in the Turk for a dressing down. Done with all the subtly of a third grader, the Israeli has to apologize and everyone forgets what the dressing down was supposed to be about...Turkish criticism of widely deplored "cast lead", and a privately produced TV program. Go figure.