Israel to Turkey: Double or nothing?

A report indicates that Israel has offered to pay $100,000 per dead terrorist in 'compensation' to Turkey - rather than the $50,000 demanded - in exchange for Turkey accepting a Israel's 'regrets' for the incident (Hat Tip: Joshua I). ‘‘Ankara demands apologies and compensation of $50 thousand to each of victims’ families. Israel, however, has another solution – Tel-Aviv will express its

No apology to Turkey

The Israeli government has decided to look out for Israel, and as a result has left Barack Hussein Obama holding the bag. Obama deserves it.

The Obama administration convinced Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman to agree not to bring down the government in the event that Israel apologized to Turkey for the Mavi Marmara incident. But Netanyahu decided not to apologize anyway (the Israeli media is

Yaalon gets Turkey

At least someone in this government gets Turkey: Moshe "Boogie" Yaalon (Hat Tip: Joshua I). Deputy Prime Minister Moshe Ya'alon voiced disapproval Monday over Turkey's demand that Israel issue an apology for its role in the 2010 Mavi Marmara incident in which nine activists were killed as the IDF intercepted the ship. Speaking to Israel Radio, the deputy prime minister called the request "rude."

Why not a limited apology?

Efraim Cohen explains why even a limited apology to Turkey for the Mavi Marmara incident constitutes a grave danger to Israel (Hat Tip: Joshua I). The problem with the proposed deal between Israel and Turkey is that an Israeli apology could very well exacerbate the rift between the two countries, at the same time causing a worldwide public relations nightmare for Israel.While the apology would

Israelis, Armenians booed at European Youth Olympics in Turkey

At the European Youth Olympics in Trabzon, Turkey, athletes from Israel and Armenia were greeted with hostility. 3,000 participants from 49 countries are participating (Hat Tip: Joshua I). At the wake of the deadly events in Norway, the crowd held a moment of silence in memory of the victims of the terrorist attack of June 22. However, what one Turkish journalist noted was the hatred in the air

Istanbul holds 'Palestinian culture' week

In yet another indication that Turkey isn't going to become our best friend anytime soon, there was a 'Palestinian culture' week held in Istanbul from July 21-30. The 4th Palestine Culture Week is getting under way Thursday in two Turkish cities, İstanbul and the southeastern city of Şanlıurfa, news agencies reported on Wednesday.A series of cultural events aimed at strengthening ties between

AKP should account for dead Turks before demanding an apology from Israel

Turkish writer Emin Colasan asks Turks to imagine what would happen if an Israeli ship tried to aid Kurdistan (something that has been suggested a number of times over the last year) and then comes up with this (Hat Tip: Simone B): We can't know whether Israel will apologize or not. However nine were killed on that ship, and they were declared "martyrs" by the Islamists.Martyrs or not, who is

Will Israel apologize to Turkey or is it wishful thinking?

Defenseless defense minister Ehud Barak was in Washington this past week, where he was subjected to a full-court press by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and new Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta to apologize to Turkey for allowing the IDF to defend itself during the Mavi Marmara incident last year. Barak, who was inclined to apologize in the first place, told a news conference in Washington

Who is less popular than Barack Obama?

Who is less popular among whom than Barack Obama is among Israelis (currently 12%)? Would you believe Jews among Turks? Guess what percent of Turks has a favorable opinion of Jews? I already told you it's less than 12%, which would be bad enough already, but come on now and take a guess. Would you believe 4% (Hat Tip: Joshua I)? And by the way, the Christians don't do much better. “Values” unveil

Hurriyet: Palmer report delayed until August 20 to prepare Israeli public for apology

The United Nations has delayed the release of the Palmer Commission report on the Mavi Marmara incident to August 20, and Turkey's Daily Hurriyet is reporting that the delay was requested by Israel to give it time to prepare its public opinion for an apology to Turkey. The third postponement of the release of a U.N. panel’s report on last year’s Mavi Marmara incident came upon a request from

Palmer report delayed, Obama takes Turkey's side

The destruction of the Jewish village of Migron (see previous post below) wasn't the only thing delayed on Sunday. The United Nations decided to delay the Palmer report on the Mavi Marmara incident for another month in the hope that Israel and Turkey can reach some sort of modus vivendi. According to the officials, the report – which was to be submitted to UN Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon on

Turkey: We won't forget and we won't forgive

In this country, when you want to show everyone that you're really angry at something someone has done to you, you say 'lo niscach v'lo nislach' (we won't forget and we won't forgive). Turkey has apparently developed a similar tradition. And they're applying it to last year's Mavi Marmara incident and telling us about it over and over again (Hat Tip: Joshua I). Turkey will never forget the nine

Erdogan and Davutoglu expressed 'deep regret' that Turkey recognized Israel in 1948 (and more)

During the recent election campaign, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu expressed 'deep regret' that Turkey recognized the State of Israel in 1948 (Hat Tip: Joshua I). Columnist Burak Bakdil writes that while that rhetoric was over the top, and did not take Turkey's interests into account, he believes it unlikely that either Erdogan or Davutoglu

Turkey holding 'Palestinian ambassadors' conference

The Turks are working hard on 'reconciling' with Israel. Really hard. The “Palestinian Ambassadors’ Conference” will take place on 23-24 July 2011, in Istanbul with the participation of Chiefs of Mission accredited to all Palestinian Representations abroad as well as senior officials of the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.The Conference will be inaugurated by H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdogan,

Attorney General says apologize to Turkey or IDF soldiers will be sued

Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein is reported to have told Prime Minister Netanyahu that if Israel does not apologize to Turkey for the Mavi Marmara incident, IDF troops who participated in the incident are likely to face lawsuits. The Justice Department has refused to confirm the report. The sources added that Weinstein believes that if Turkey promises not to file lawsuits against IDF soldiers

Erdogan wants threatens to visit Gaza

In an earlier post, I reported that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other Turkish officials wanted to visit Gaza when conditions were right. Now Erdogan is using the prospect of such a visit as a crass threat to try to induce Israel to apologize for the IDF defending itself. The Turkish prime minister has expressed his desire to visit Hamas-controlled Gaza after a trip to Egypt,

Boogie talks Turkey

Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe (Boogie) Yaalon told Israel Radio on Wednesday morning that he has had it with talking to Turkey. According to Yaalon, the Turks want an apology and not reconciliation. Minister of Strategic Affairs Moshe Ya'alon said on Wednesday that Turkey's insistence on an Israeli apology for last year's Gaza flotilla raid does not allow reconciliation talk to progress,

Erdogan, other Turkish officials, want to visit Gaza

Turkish Prime Minister Recept Tayyip Erdogan wants to go visit his namesake in Gaza, and insists that other Turkish officials wish to do the same. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed his wishes to visit the Gaza Strip and mentioned other Turkish officials wish to do the same.“If conditions are right, I will consider a visit to Gaza,” Erdoğan said. What could go wrong?

Erdogan's new demand

Just when you thought Israel was going to do something foolish and apologize to Turkey for the Mavi Marmara incident, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan throws a monkey wrench int he proceedings by raising a new issue: He now wants the Gaza 'blockade' lifted as a condition to reconciling with Israel. But that's not an issue that's between Israel and Turkey and I highly doubt that will

Israel to apologize to Turkey?

After more than a year of refusing to do so, Israel's defenseless 'defense minister' wants to apologize to the Turkish Islamist terrorists who tried to murder IDF soldiers aboard the Mavi Marmara in May of last year (Hat Tip: Joshua I). Internal discussions between defense officials and Justice Ministry officials over the past few weeks have suggested that a cautious apology could stop possible