FirstQuaker -> RE: Trouble Looking to Happen (9/12/2011 7:07:45 AM)
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The Israelis and the Turks had a good relationship (as far as one can have such a thing in the Middle East) until this attack on the aid flotilla went on. quote:
Turkey's prime minister says Israel's raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla last year was "cause for war" but adds that his country had shown "patience" and refrained from taking any action. Prime Minister Recep Erdogan's comments to Al-Jazeera television come as a rift between former allies Israel and Turkey has deepened over Israel's refusal to apologize for the attack that killed nine activists on board a Turkish ship trying to break Israeli naval blockade of Gaza. It also comes ahead of Erdogan's visit to Egypt on Monday, aimed at forging closer cooperation with the country whose relations have also grown tense in the past weeks. Erdogan, who enjoys huge popularity in the Arab world because of his anti-Israeli stance, told Al-Jazeera that the raid occurred in international waters and was therefore "unlawful." His comments were carried by Turkey's state-run Anatolia news agency late Sunday. "This attack that took place in international waters is not within international laws," Erdogan said. "It is a cause for war, but we decided to act in line with Turkey's grandeur and showed patience." - Turkey says flotilla raid was 'cause for war As for the other countries, (like in Egypt) the Arab "man on the street" never was a fan of Israel, and now these various regimes are crumbling, those deals with Israel the strongmen running them made, are likely all going to need a significant rework. If I were the Israeli government, an apology to the Turks would have been a cheap way out of the trouble with the Turks they are now in. And contrary to some of the posts, while the UN found the blockade was legit, they found the Israeli use of force and in particular the random shootings about the aid vessels was unjustified - quote:
A U.N. report into the raid, released earlier this month, said Israel's naval blockade was legitimate but accused the Israel of using "excessive and unreasonable" force. If I were the Israelis, I would be trying to maintain a real low profile while the "Arab Spring" matures.
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