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The Spectacle Blog
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Turkish PM Recep Tayyep Erdogan to apologize for the IDF raid on the Mavi Marmara in 2010 which resulted in the deaths of nine Turks. Erdogan accepted the apology. You bet he did.
After all, earlier this month Erdogan demanded an Israeli apology during Secretary of State John Kerry’s state visit and scarcely three weeks later, he gets it.
The phone call was arranged by President Obama before he left for Jordan and no doubt he exerted considerable pressure on Bibi to do so.
Obviously, the aim is to restore relations between Israel and Turkey. But that isn’t going to happen. The raid on the Mavi Marmara occurred after they refused to let the IDF board for inspection. The other ships in the flotilla had co-operated. If they had done the same then none of the Turks would have died. Erdogan has only himself to blame for this folly.
Instead, what we have is a victory for both Erdogan and Hamas. It legitimizes these acts of aggression and will only encourage Turkey to organize more flotillas to Gaza and Israel will be hamstrung in trying to ensure no weaponry reaches Gaza.
So will the Obama Administration compel Erdogan to make amends with Israel? Will he apologize to Netanyahu for calling Zionism “a crime against humanity”? Not a chance in hell. He certainly wouldn’t do it on his own because he would lose face with his people. In effect, despite being admonished by the U.S. for his rhetoric against Israel, Erdogan has now been effectively rewarded for it. As such, he will continue to use anti-Israel and anti-Semitic rhetoric for his political gain. The end result will be a further deteoriation between Israel and Turkey while both weakening Netanyahu and once again making the Obama Administration look foolish in the Middle East.
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More Blog Posts by Aaron Goldstein
http://spectator.org/blog/2013/03/22/why-israels-apology-to-turkey
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Dimitry_Aleksandrovich| 3.22.13 @ 3:04PM
Right now the Wahhabist Saudis and Qataris, the Turks, the Israelis and the Western powers are involved in the joint effort of destroying the secular, multi-ethnic, multi-confessional Arab state of Syria endangering the lives of millions of Syrian Christians, Shia/Alawites, Druze, Kurds and yes Jews as well. Netanyahu, Erdogan, Obama and Crown Prince Abdullah have found common cause in Syria.
Tanguera| 3.22.13 @ 3:37PM
Mr. Kaminsky, in your opinion, why do you think Bibi would agree to apologize? As you say, it makes him look weak, hamstrings him in the future, rewards Erdogan, etc. Dare I suggest that BHO has orchestrated an act of submission at the highest level.
Aaron Goldstein| 3.22.13 @ 4:34PM
My surname is Goldstein, not Kaminsky.
Tanguera| 3.22.13 @ 7:25PM
Yikes! Haste makes waste. I apologize, Mr. Goldstein.
Jack in Wi| 3.22.13 @ 4:52PM
Israel commited murder and piracy on the high seas. The least it can do is apologize. Turkey was the only friend Israel had in the area. The Turkish army and air force could blow Israel to kingdom come if it came down to a conventional war. I also believe the Turks have nuclear weapons. While you have been yelling about Iran the Turks have been quietly building. I think the same is true of Saudi Arabia. Who do you think financed the Pakistani Bomb? Do you think these people are going to live under Israel's nuclear blackmail forever? Have a nice weekend. Shalom.
Occam's Tool| 3.22.13 @ 5:25PM
You know, Jackboot, 200 vehicles accompanied the man you despised, Chris Kyle, a genuine American Hero.
When you die, I expect a neurosyphilitic demented incontinent fellow to raise a leg in your honor.
Turkey was supporting murderers and scum, just as you do.
Frog in Uniform | 3.22.13 @ 5:56PM
Trust me on this one, never ever apologize to a raghead. It just makes things worse and you gotta kick the shiite out of him to calm him down. Come to think of it, I should apologize more often to ragheads.
Occam's Tool| 3.23.13 @ 3:46PM
Dear Mr. Frog: the article in which you can see Jack's slur against a real man is this one, by Mr. Goldstein: Ron Paul Smears An American Hero February 5, 2013.
True, I treated Jack a bit harshly, but he wasn't just stating that I'm a genocidal maniac and that Israel should be wiped off the planet. I expect those things from Jack, as he is subhuman vermin, and worse, a Green Bay FudgePacker fan.
No, on this one he said that I lied about what he said about a true American hero, then doubly lied and stated that he was unaware of him, when he had written his foul slander less than 2 months before. Now THAT, that, I take personally.
I always, always enjoy your comments sir. If there were more like you, I would have no worries for France's survival for the next millenium.
Frog in Uniform | 3.23.13 @ 5:52PM
Why Monsieur OT, thanks a lot but I wish I could share your optimism re the fate of my poor Frogland even with 50% law abiding, G-d fearing, hard working citizens...
In the Unit we sometimes feel like Loth, bargaining Sodom's plight with the Almighty. Not enough good guys to save the day, when the day comes...
About Monsieur Jack, I wish you would reconsider your prejudice about designated marksmen (the word "sniper" is used most of the times when anyone uses a rifle, be it scoped or not, even at close range, or in the commission of a crime, so I avoid using it.) DM's are among the most professional specialists and, outside of the military and law enforcement, even a short stint in an outfit like Gunsite or with Clint Smith's Thunder Ranch should help you acquire a grasp of what the stuff really requires and help you gain more respect for a very misunderstood line of work.
You guys take care. And remember: Right or wrong, your Country.
Jack in Wi| 3.23.13 @ 9:47PM
Occam is a liar. I never have called Israel to be wiped off the earth. I have called for it to join the civlized world and treat the majority of people in Israel Palistine as human beings not as vermin to be expelled or exterminated. He has repeatedly called for nuclear genocide against tens of millions of Christians and Muslims in the Middle east. He claims to be an MD. He is an insult to his profession, if he is. I believe in peace, univeral brotherhood, justice and civil liberties for all. Sadly Israel has stood against all these things since it's founding.
Occam's Tool| 3.24.13 @ 12:58AM
You have called israel a "racist pimple on the shores of the Mediterranean" that needs to be destroyed.
You lie, and you support Islamic jihadists.
And Dmitry, you need to get consistent: you really can't support interventions against Islamic radicalism and oppose the country which fights it best.
Or, to put it another way, Georgia works with Israel on matters of Islamic counterterrorism.
As I always like to say, imagine you are thirsty and suffering from heat exposure wearing a large crucifix on the West bank. Would you like a member of Fatah or the IDF finding you?
Frog in Uniform | 3.22.13 @ 5:57PM
And you Jack in Wi, just leave Monsieur Kyle alone. You shouldn't even mention his name as you are galaxies apart.
Jack in Wi| 3.22.13 @ 7:34PM
I don't know who Chris Kyle is. That is just Occam and his usual BS. If he was a soldier killed in one of idiotic wars, his family has my deepest ssympathy. Occam is a crazed blowhard who wouldn't put his life on the line for anyone in this country. All he does is advocate mass murder and genocide. He belongs locked in an instution is he isn't in one already.
RCV| 3.23.13 @ 12:26PM
Aaron, you're just plain wrong about this. Repairing Israeli-Turkish relations is essential to Israeli security. Kudos to Obama for this important step toward that goal.
Occam's Tool| 3.23.13 @ 3:36PM
Jack: here's YOUR COMMENT on Chris Kyle's death:
"Jack in Wi| 2.6.13 @ 6:48AM
Why would you take a mental patient to a firing range? That is what Adam Lanza's mother did. Look how that turned out. Paul is right to blame the war for these deaths. We can also blame all these suicides in the military and among the war vets on the liars and criminals who put us into these wars. Anyone who pushed these wars is too blame for all this misery. I don't especially like snipers. Look at the one that gunned down Randy Weaver's wife. Sheldon Adelson wants his young sons to be Israeli snipers so they can gun down innocent Palistinians, What a wonderful ambition, paid assassins for a criminal state. Live by the sword die by the sword. Anyone who thinks people who fight in criminal wars are heros is wrong. Plenty of Germans who fought for Hitler did so with great courage. I don't see you calling them heros."
The quote is from a column slamming Ron Paul for slamming Kyle.
You lie, and then you LIE, and then you LIE.
You are getting dementia to go with your antisemitic evil scumbaggedness, Cheesehead FudgePacker. I warned you that being a Catamite for Jihadists would lead you to a baaaad end, but you didn't listen to me on that any more tha you listened to me on how to spell "it's" versus "its" or "Palestine."
You, sir, are a maggot.
Occam's Tool| 3.23.13 @ 3:37PM
Sorry: "than you listened to me..."
About being a Cheesehead FudgePacker, that's the fact, Jack.
Jack in Wi| 3.23.13 @ 9:59PM
I forgot about it. I still agree with Ron Paul's statement. Why would you take a mental patient who was suicidal to a firing range? I stand by every word in the statement you quoted. It is the truth. You are a psycho. You claim to be a shrink. Yet you see nothing wrong with the massive increase in suicides in the military since we have had these endless wars. I never mentioned Kyles name that I remember. So why would I remember something from 7 weeks ago? Why don't you take all the mental patients you claim to treat out to the rage for target practice?
Oldefarte| 3.23.13 @ 7:09PM
OMG, when are the American Jews and the Israelies going to wake up [and if/when they do so, I wish that they would b*tch-slap the remaining Americans into a state of common sense]. He ain't ya friend and he ain't got your back [or ya front or anything else] unless you're a welfare queen wanting governmental welfare [are will pull his lever at the voting booth in return for same]. Giving him a medal and apologizing for protection of your own vital interests are asinine and absurd, and such behaviors will come back to bite you in your posterior sooner or later. "Red line"? Right, AND THE COW JUMPED OVER THE MOON WHILE THE DISH RAN AWAY WITH THE SPOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Johnson| 3.23.13 @ 7:54PM
At last, Israel had to understand "the real power of TURKEY" like the others countries in the European Union. On the other hand, as there was no way except from obeying Turkey, I think it is a logical way for Israel. Now Israel must know it would be a big mistake jogging with Turkey as Turkey has become much more powerful than ever before like the OTTOMAN EMPIRE!..