Turkey Is Now Demanding That Israel Must Lift It's Gaza Blockade Before Full Normalization Of Ties

Erdogan Says Gaza Blockade Must Be Lifted Before Full Normalization With Israel -- Algemeiner

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on Israel to compensate flotilla victims and end its blockade of Gaza before full normalization of relations can be restored.

On Friday, as U.S. President Barack Obama was about to depart Israel, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Erdogan and apologized for Israel’s actions during the May 2010 Gaza flotilla incident, during which eight Turks and one Turkish-American were killed after they attacked Israeli soldiers on board.

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Update: Erdogan: No Quick Restoration of Ties With Israel -- ABC News/AP

My Comment: An apology may have been made .... but there is no agreement on what is next .... in fact .... there is a lot of disagreement.

Update: Turks Illustrate Limits of Obama’s Magic -- Jonathan S. Tobin, Commentary

Israel Apologizes To Turkey

Inside Bibi’s Apology To Turkey -- Josh Rogin, the Cable/Foreign Policy

In a makeshift trailer set up on the tarmac at Israel's Ben Gurion airport, President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netayahu called Turkish Prime Minister Racep Erdogan and Netanyahu apologized for the nine deaths that resulted from the boarding by Israeli soldiers of a Turkish ship, the Mavi Marmara.

Netanyahu's office issued a press release late Friday following the 30-minute call, which took place just before Obama boarded Air Force One for his flight to Jordan. Israel-Turkey diplomatic relations have been severed ever since the 2010 incident, in which the Mavi Marmara led a flotilla bound for Gaza meant to break the Israeli naval blockade. After repeated warnings, Israeli soldiers forcibly boarded the ship and were met by passengers wielding homemade weapons. In addition to the nine passenger deaths, more than a dozen other passengers and several Israeli soldiers were injured in the clash.

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More News On Israel Apologizing To Turkey For Deadly Flotilla Raid

Israel, Turkey agree to restore full diplomatic ties after apology over Gaza flotilla deaths -- Washington Post/AP
Obama brokers Israel-Turkey rapprochement -- Reuters
Israeli Apology to Turkey Sets Up Renewal of Diplomatic Ties -- New York Times
Israel's Netanyahu apologizes to Turkey over deadly flotilla raid -- NBC
Israel apologizes to Turkey over flotilla deaths -- USA Today
Obama: Timing was right for Israel, Turkey reconciliation -- Jerusalem Post
Under pressure from Obama, Israel, Turkey talk -- Politico
Israel to Turkey: We apologize for deadly raid -- CNN
Netanyahu Apologizes to Turkey for Deadly Ship Raid -- Wall Street Journal
Obama welcomes call between Israel, Turkey, says restoration of relations needed for peace -- Washington Post/AP
Yes, Netanyahu’s apology to Turkey is a very big deal -- Max Fisher, Washington Post

A Rapprochement Between Israel And Turkey?

Turkey Lifts Veto On Israel’s NATO Activities Despite Tensions: Report -- Al Arabiya

Turkey has reportedly agreed to Israeli participation in NATO activities in order to get Patriot missiles on its border with Syria, the Jerusalem Post reported on Sunday.

The Israeli newspaper said Israel will join a 2013 NATO military drill in Turkey, despite tense diplomatic ties between the two states.

“At the last minute – and I think it was dependent on the Patriots – it was approved,” an Israeli military official told the newspaper on condition of anonymity, referring to Turkey’s request to position the defensive missile batteries along its border with Syria.

However, there has been no “total solution” of the standoff between Ankara and Tel Aviv, the source added.

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More News On Turkey Lifting It`s Veto On Israel`s NATO Participation

Turkey lifts objection to NATO cooperation with Israel -- Reuters
Turkey lifts NATO Israel veto -- The Australian
Israel to participate in NATO events -- UPI
Turkey retracts veto on NATO cooperation with Israel -- Times of Israel
US pressure behind Turkey’s NATO move -- Hurriyet News
Turkey Prefers Bluster Over Balance In Dealing with Israel -- Al-Monitor
Sundown: An Israeli-Turkish Détente? -- The Tablet

My Comment: Turkey acquiesce to NATO`s (i.e. the U.S.) demands on the removal of their veto on Israel was done for the simple reason that they want NATO Patriot Defense batteries positioned on the border that they share with the rapidly chaotic and disintegrating state of Syria. The chaos and the risk of spillover from the Syrian civil war into Turkey is Turkey`s main focus of concern right now .... their differences with Israel are still there but pale to what a fractured Syria with unsecured WMDs in the hands of angry Assad military loyalists, jihadists or radical Kurds can do to Turkey.

An Israeli - Turkish Reconciliation?

Turkey FM Confirms Resumption Of Reconciliation Talks With Israel -- Haaretz

Follow Haaretz report last Friday, Turkish FM Ahmet Davutoglu tells CNN that Israel must apologize and compensate families of activists killed in Gaza flotilla raid, and lift Gaza blockade; Israeli envoy reportedly responds positively to first two requests, and does not rule ending Gaza siege.

In an interview with CNN Turk, Davutoglu said that Turkey will not make any concessions on its terms for ending the bilateral crisis: an Israeli apology for the killing of nine Turks during the 2010 raid on the Gaza-bound Mavi Marmara, payment of compensation to the families of the dead and wounded, and a removal of the Gaza blockade.

"It was an informal meeting," said Davutoglu of the Turkish-Israeli encounter in Geneva last week. "We are prepared to talk if the Israelis say they are prepared to fulfill our conditions."

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More News On Israeli - Turkish Reconciliation Talks

Turkey confirms holding back-channel reconciliation talks with Israel -- Times of Israel
Turkey admits contact with Israel over Gaza -- Gulf News/AFP
Turkish Foreign Minister confirms Israel-Turkey talks -- Globes
Turkish FM confirms talks with Israel on Gaza, bilateral ties -- News.Az

Update: Turkish FM: No Talks with Israel to Normalize Ties -- Turkish Weekly

Turkey To Try Israel's Military Chiefs Over Deadly Flotilla Raid

Photo: The Mavi Marmara was headed towards the Gaza coast when Israeli commandos boarded it. BBC

Turkey And Israel Are Far From Reconciliation -- Deutsche Welle

Soured relations between Turkey and Israel are likely to receive another blow this week with the beginning of a controversial trial in a Turkish court against four Israeli generals for killing pro-Palestinian activists.

The Israeli generals are charged with commanding a deadly raid on the Mavi Marmara flotilla, which attempted to break Israel's naval blockade of the Gaza Strip two years ago. The raid killed nine Turkish citizens aboard one of the ships.

Testimony begins in an Istanbul court on Tuesday in the trial of four senior Israeli commanders for their alleged responsibility in the deadly raid on the Mavi Marmara flotilla in 2010. The prosecutor has called for each of the four Israeli officers to face nine life sentences. The commanders, including the Chief of the General Staff, Gabi Ashkenazi, are to be tried in absentia.

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My Comment: Turkey and Israel may be far apart from reconciliation, but their focus is entirely on the Syrian civil war.

More News On Turkey Putting Israel's Military Chiefs On Trial

Turkey to try Israelis over flotilla raid -- UPI
Turkey tries Israeli military over Gaza ship killings -- Reuters
Turkey to try Israeli commanders over Mavi Marmara raid -- BBC
Turkey to try Israeli top brass in deadly flotilla raid -- AFP
Turkey Begins 'Mavi Marmara' Flotilla Trial of 4 IDF Commanders -- Arutz Sheva
Turkey Puts Israel on Trial -- Commentary

Turkey Vetoes Israeli Participation In Next Months NATO Summit

Minister Davutoğlu conveys Turkey’s veto on Israel to a NATO summit. DHA photo

Turkey Blocks Israel From NATO Summit -- Hurriyet Daily News

Turkey blocks the participation of Israel in a NATO summit in May despite calls from NATO allies including the US. ‘There will be no Israeli presence unless they issue a formal apology’ for Mavi Marmara attack, says an official.

Turkey has blocked the participation of Israel in a key NATO summit that will take place in Chicago on May 20 and 21, despite calls from influential allies including the United States, Western diplomatic have sources told the Hürriyet Daily News. The veto was conveyed to the NATO bodies by Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu during the Alliance’s meeting last week in Brussels.

“There will be no Israeli presence at the NATO meeting unless they issue a formal apology and pay compensation for the Turkish citizens their commandos killed in international waters” a senior Turkish official told the Daily News.

“There are demands from us for the removal of our veto, but this is out of question.”

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My Comment: This is additinoal confirmation that Israeli - Turkish relations are still in "the toilet".

Turkey Wants To Arrest 174 Israeli Soldiers And Commanders

Photo: Reuters

Turkey Seeks Israeli Arrests Over Flotilla Raid -- Ynet News

Turkish media reports prosecutor seeking arrest of 174 Israelis allegedly involved in 2010 Navy raid on Gaza-bound ship

A Turkish prosecutor is seeking the arrest of 174 Israelis allegedly involved in the naval commando raid that killed nine Turks on a ship carrying aid to the Gaza Strip last year, broadcaster CNN Turk reported on Wednesday.

Ties between the two regional powers have deteriorated sharply since IDF naval commandos raided the Mavi Marmara in May 2010.

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Update #1: Turkish prosecutor seeks IDF arrests over flotilla raid -- Jerusalem Post
Update #2: Report: Turkish prosecutor seeks Interpol notice for flotilla attackers -- Today's Zaman

My Comment: This is going to succeed just as much as Amnesty International in Canada is going to be successful in convincing the Canadian government to arrest former President Bush.

Was Israel's Raid On Gaza Flotilla A Reason For War?

Turkey: Israel's Raid On Gaza Flotilla Was 'Cause For War' -- Haaretz

Turkey PM says Ankara showed restraint and patience 'befitting our greatness' by not taking action following the deadly 2010 incident.

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan saw "cause for war" with Israel last year after a deadly raid on a Turkish ship headed for Gaza, according to a transcript of a recent interview.

State news agency Anatolia released late on Sunday what it said was an original Turkish-language transcript of an interview Erdogan gave to Al Jazeera television last week. It included elements not broadcast as well as original wording for sensitive comments that had been transmitted only in Arabic translation.

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My Comment: In my mind .... no. But many in Turkey have a different opinion.

Turkey's "Gunboat Diplomacy" Targets Israel

Tayyip Erdogan says Turkey will flex its naval muscles in the eastern Mediterranean, providing a warship escort for any Gaza aid vessels. Photograph: Umit Bektas/Reuters

Turkish Warships Will Escort Gaza Aid Vessels, Pledges Turkish PM -- The Guardian

Erdogan makes pledge as Israeli-Turkish relations plummet following UN report into last year's Gaza flotilla raid.

Turkish warships will escort any Turkish aid vessels to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the prime minister, has announced.

He also said Turkey had taken steps to stop Israel unilaterally exploiting natural resources from the eastern Mediterranean, according to al-Jazeera's Arabic translation of excerpts of an interview conducted in Turkish.

His comments came after Turkey's ruling party said the country's ties to Israel could be normalised if the Jewish state apologised for the killing of nine pro-Palestinian activists last year and accepted it should pay compensation to their families.

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More News On Turkey's Willingness To Escort Turkish Aid Ships To Gaza

Turkey 'to escort Gaza aid ships' amid row with Israel -- BBC
Turkish PM: Warships will escort future aid vessels to Gaza -- Jerusalem Post
Erdogan threatens to send gunboats with next flotilla -- Jerusalem Post
Turkey: Warships will back next flotilla -- Ynet News
Turkish warships will protect Gaza aid convoys: PM -- AFP
Turkey Takes a Harder Line Abroad -- Wall Street Journal
Analysis: Turkey's gunboat diplomacy makes waves in region -- Reuters

Turkey Suspends Trade And Defense Ties With Israel

Turkey Suspends Trade, Defense Ties With Israel -- Voice of America

Turkey says it is "totally suspending" all trade and military ties with Israel as relations between the two countries continue to worsen.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the freeze Tuesday, a day after Turkey ordered all senior Israeli diplomats to leave the country by Wednesday.

Erdogan also said he may visit the Gaza Strip, but would finalize plans after speaking to Egyptian officials. He is planning to visit Egypt later this month.

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More News On Turkey Suspending Trade And Military Ties With Israel

Turkish PM announces additional sanctions on Israel -- CNN
Turkey warns of more sanctions against Israel -- AP
Turkey PM toughens line towards Israel -- AFP
Turkey suspends Israel defence ties over Gaza aid raid -- BBC
Turkey’s Erdogan Reduces Ties With Israel -- Bloomberg
Turkey Suspending Trade, Military Ties with Israel -- IBTimes
Israeli-Turkish Rupture Deepens -- Wall Street Journal
Turkey suspends military ties with Israel -- The Guardian
Diplomatic Strains Intensify Between Turkey and Israel -- New York Times
Turkey: Suspension of trade won't apply to private sector -- YNet News
Turkey clarifies: Trade sanctions against Israel include only defense industry -- Haaretz
Turkey raising naval presence amid tension with Israel -- Reuters

Turkey Criticizes Israel's Flotilla Report

Turkey President Lays Into Israel Flotilla Inquiry -- Washington Post

ISTANBUL -- Turkey's president on Monday lambasted an Israeli inquiry that cleared its military and government of any wrongdoing in a deadly raid on a Gaza-bound international flotilla as having "no value or credibility."

President Abdullah Gul said the findings illustrate "Israel's spoiled attitude, that has no regard for the world or for international law."

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More News On Turkey's Criticism Of The Israeli Report On The Gaza Flotilla Inquiry

Turkey president lays into Israel flotilla inquiry -- AP
Turkey slams Israeli flotilla report, issues own -- Reuters
Turkey Rejects Israeli Find on Raid -- Wall Street Journal
Turkey: Israel's probe of Gaza flotilla has no value or credibility -- Haaretz

Israeli inquiry says navy obeyed law in deadly flotilla raid -- Washington Post
Israeli Panel Rules Flotilla Raid Legal -- New York Times
Israeli inquiry: Flotilla raid, blockade legal -- AP
Israeli soldiers fired at Gaza aid flotilla in self-defence, says inquiry -- The Guardian

Pro-Palestinian groups plan largest Gaza flotilla ever -_ Jerusalem Post
Two more Gaza-bound flotillas to set sail in spring -- Haaretz
Israel's Gaza flotilla probe findings could hurt Israel-Turkey ties -- Christian Science Monitor
Turkey is losing hope of a rapport with Israel -- Ozdem Sanberk, Financial Times

Turkey Threatens Israel If Israel Attacks Lebanon Or The Gaza Strip

Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Photo from Press TV

'Turkey Won't Be Silent If Israel Attacks Lebanon, Gaza' -- Jerusalem Post

Turkey will not stay silent in the event of an Israeli attack on Lebanon or the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in Beirut on Thursday, according to an AFP report.

"Does (Israel) think it can enter Lebanon with the most modern aircraft and tanks to kill women and children, and destroy schools and hospitals, and then expect us to remain silent?" Erdogan asked on the final day of a two-day visit to Lebanon.

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More News On Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan Visit To Lebanon

Turkey 'won't be silent' if Israel strikes Lebanon -- AFP
Erdogan: Turkey will not remain silent if Israel attacks Lebanon -- Haaretz
Turkey vows reaction to Israel threat -- Press TV
Turkey's PM to Israel: "We will not remain silent" -- World Bulletin
Erdogan appeals for Lebanese unity -- The Daily Star

One Time Ally Turkey Now Regards Israel As The "Central Threat"

Turkey's prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, called the Israeli raid on the Mava Marmaris "murder conducted by a state". Photograph: Umit Bektas/Reuters

Turkish Document Defines Israel as 'Central Threat' -- Jerusalem Post

National Security Council in Ankara decides to remove Syria, Bulgaria, Georgia, Armenia from list of countries that pose threat.

The Turkish National Security Council approved a few days ago significant changes in a document which contains threats against Turkey claiming that Israel is now a major threat to the country, Turkish media reported Saturday.

Israel was redefined as a "major threat" in the document called "The Red Book."

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My Comment: There is no mention of Hezbollah, Iran, Hamas, etc. Turkey is now viewing the world through Islamic eyes.

Will The Turkish Navy Accompany The Next Flotilla Of Aid Ships To Gaza?

IDF: Global Jihad on flotilla -- Jerusalem Post

Fifty 'Mavi Marmara' passengers tied to global jihad network.

Dozens of passengers who were aboard the Mavi Marmara Turkish passenger ship are suspected of having connections with global jihad-affiliated terrorist organizations, defense officials said on Tuesday, amid growing concerns that Turkish warships would accompany a future flotilla to the Gaza Strip.

According to the defense officials, the IDF has identified about 50 passengers on the ship who could have terrorist connections with global jihad-affiliated groups.

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My Comment: Buried in this JP news article is the following eye-opening remark ....

Meanwhile Tuesday, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Israel not to test Ankara’s patience.

“Turkey’s hostility is as strong as its friendship is valuable,” he said. “Israel in no way can legitimize this murder, it cannot wash its hand of this blood.”

This comment, officials said, could signify a change in Turkish military posture in the event that another flotilla is dispatched to the Gaza Strip. One official said that the chances that Turkey would send navy ships were slim – due to its membership in NATO – but that the issue was of great concern.

“This is a definite possibility that we need to prepare for,” a senior defense official said.

Will Turkey follow through by sending navy ships into the region and thereby getting directly involved in the Israel - Hamas/Gaza conflict .... I personally have my doubts. But Turkey under its Islamic Government has been following a very pro-Islamic/Hamas/Palestinian policy .... if the situation heats up even more I would suspect that anything would then be possible.

More News On Turkey's Involvement In the Gaza Aid Flotilla

Turkish Funds Helped Group Test Blockade of Gaza -- New York Times
Turkey maintains push for Israel sanctions -- USA Today
Turkey recalls envoy over Gaza flotilla deaths, accuses Israel of 'state terrorism' -- Haaretz
In Turkey, rage at Israeli raid puts an ally to the test -- Boston.com
A turning point for Turkey -- Jerusalem Post editorial

Turkey And Israel Try To Repair Their Alliance

Israel And Turkey Look To Salvage Their Damaged Military Alliance -- Wall Street Journal

The militaries of Israel and Turkey are trying to salvage an alliance severely damaged as Ankara realigns its position in the Middle East.

A one-day trip to Turkey by Israeli defense minister Ehud Barak on Sunday will be the highest-level visit by an Israeli or Turkish official to the other country since Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's explosive confrontation over the Gaza conflict with President Shimon Peres at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January 2009.

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My Comment: The Government of Turkey is riled by an Islamic party, and while they may deal with Israel on multiple levels, its natural inclination will be to support the Palestinians and fellow Islamic allies. Both militaries may try to salvage this special relationship .... but in the end it is the politicians who will make the final decision on where this special relationship will go.

Turkey Is No Longer An Honest Broker In The Missle East

Photo: Syrian President Bashar Assad (right) shakes hands with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Damascus, Syria. Photo: AP

'Erdogan-Led Turkey Can't Broker Talks' -- Jerusalem Post

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan "has lost all credibility as an honest broker in peace discussions," a senior Israeli diplomatic official told The Jerusalem Post Saturday night, citing Erdogan's recent anti-Israel rhetoric.

"As long as he is the prime minister of the country, Turkey has no place in peace negotiations or discussions," the official added. "It is not a trustworthy diplomatic partner anymore."

Until recently, Turkey had played a key role in quiet discussions between Israel, Syria, and other regional players.

The loss of the Turkish diplomatic channel was a serious blow to these discussions, said Foreign Ministry officials.

"The only parties that could reasonably play that mediating role now are the Americans under Obama, or, in theory, a European party," the diplomatic official surmised.

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More News On Turkey As A Honest Broker
In The Israeli - Arab Conflict

Erdogan risks mediator role -- The Guardian
Israel: Erdogan's Davos behavior may ruin Turkey's EU chances -- Haaretz
Turkish PM Vents Frustration with Israel -- Voice Of America
Arabic press praises Erdogan -- BBC News
Iran hails Turkish PM for Gaza walkout -- AFP