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Israel should just have done the decent thing and apologised for killing the 9 civilians on the Mavi Marmara - but no, they are being obstinate.

In the latest development, Turkey is saying:

Turkish warships will escort any Turkish aid vessels to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said in remarks broadcast on Al Jazeera television on Thursday.

Erdogan also said that Turkey had taken steps to stop Israel from unilaterally exploiting natural resources from the eastern Mediterranean, according to Al Jazeera's Arabic translation of excerpts of the interview, which was conducted in Turkish.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14844902


It remains to be seen whether this will become a reality - especially the real threat of Israel tapping into Gas reserves which are not in Israeli territorial waters.

One has to wonder how much the fact that there is probably Natural Gas in Palestinian territorial waters has to do with the on-going occupation in general and naval blockade in particular. If the Gazans were allowed to exploit the natural reserves, then it would be less reliant on aid and could develop Palestine further.

An interesting development to watch.

Cheers,
Shafique

I hope Erdogan does not become a prisoner of its own words like Nasser. Israel will not allow it and escalation might lead to an inevitable war. Nobody will win. And for what? Having a fit because you think you deserve an apologize but do not get one.
I wonder how much this has to do with a new NATO radar shield in Turkey against Iran.

The hardliners are backing Israel into a corner.

With their actions, the elected government in Turkey is getting more and more support for it's stance against the Israeli Military Occupation - whereas historically the ties between Turkey and Israel have been strong.

The Government of Turkey has come out strongly in favour of Palestinian statehood and is firmly backing all the diplomatic efforts the Palestinians are making. There is no indication that this is not the democratic will of the Turkish people - on the contrary, as with Egypt, the population at large has been against Israel's crimes - just as in most populations around the world, regardless or religions/ethnicities of the populations.

In another twist in this saga - Israeli visitors to Turkey are being given a taste of the the medicine Turkish visitors to Israel endured. The Israelis aren't happy, but Haaretz asks whether 'perhaps Israelis need humiliation to respect others':
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/op ... s-1.383395

Cheers,
Shafique

Erdogan is already backing down (that was quick!):

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4120259,00.html

Turkish PM's office softens threat of military clash at sea, says country 'won't send vessel to Mediterranean Sea as long as Israel avoids intervening in freedom of movement in international waters'

He has already alienated his Syrian and Iranian allies. Perhaps he sees that the measures against Israel hurt Turkey more than Israel.

Thats called being sensible and diplomatic FD, something the Israelis don't know anything about but hopefully they will learn, this is basically giving the Israelis an out with an attached condition.

It would be sensible and diplomatic to not immediately go into a childish tantrum and threaten with war and then backpedal. Turkey made itself look weak now.
Turkey needs its diplomacy more with the occupation of Northern Cyprus and cross border raids into Iraq.

No body threathed war, just an armed escort.

desertdudeshj wrote:No body threathed war, just an armed escort.

A navy escort for ships trying to break a legal naval blockade. You don't need to be Einstein to understand what that means.

Occupying Palestine and sending random Jews from Europe to take over their land by all means of brutality (+continuous humilation with the entire hypocrite world watching) doesn't also need you to be an Einstein to understand what that means.

Israel is left all alone now. Turkey, Egypt, and even Jordan none is left, as no one can stand the extreme arrogance of some bunch of apes. Once the Arabian Spring is over, and hopefully the Shia regimes collapse for good, expect another war in the region

Its a matter of time, just matter of time, and I hope I live to witness that day of justice.
Let everyone live with his own dreams and beliefs, and time will judge (Y)

The frustration of fanbois like FD also stems from the fact that the Israeli propaganda that worked for years/decades is nowadays seen to be hollow.

Israel vows to defend gas after Turkey threatens to boost navy patrols in Mediterranean

Energy Minister Uzi Landau says Israel will secure its rigs after Erdogan says Turkey will make its presence felt in the eastern Mediterranean.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-d ... n-1.383820

So, FD spins Turkey's clarification that if aid ships are left free it won't accompany them is characterised as 'backing down' - when to ordinary folk it is as per DDS's post that this is just sensible and clarifies why Turkey needed to announce the measure.

Let's see how FD spins Israel's sabre rattling - after all, what Israel is saying is that it will defend any illegal drilling in non-Israeli waters. First steal land, now steal gas in the sea!

Cheers,
Shafique

Flying Dutchman wrote:

desertdudeshj wrote:No body threathed war, just an armed escort.

A navy escort for ships trying to break a legal naval blockade. You don't need to be Einstein to understand what that means.

Legal ? LOL

United Nations Human Rights Council head Navi Pillay and the International Committee of the Red Cross have said the blockade is illegal. 2009 Navi Pillai in a 34-page report, calling it a violation of the rules of war

U.N. Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, John Holmes, described the blockade as "collective punishment". United Nations Special Rapporteur Richard A. Falk called it a crime against humanity.

Goldstone also called it a crime against humanity going on to further say the matter should be referred to the International Criminal Court. Every sane body and individual has either deemed it illegal or a crime of massive propotions.

Its only the Palmer report which calls it legal without any reference to any international laws, a report which was dismissed by almost everybody including Turkey and Israel.

In fact Turkey would be breaking an illegal blockade and if attacked, NATO then by law has to step in. And lets say what ever uncitied law the palmer report envoked, it would then be totally legal for Hamas to impose one of its own, maybe a country would assit them in doing so, for example Turkey.

It would be then a totally legal blockade of Israel according to you right ? And once again if Turkey ever got attacked by Israeli forces trying to uphold this "legal" blockade, NATO would have to step in, in defense of Turkey.