On the Israeli raid....
The Israelis stormed a "flotilla" of ships ferrying aid to the Gaza strip. Somehow, in the largely symbolic and diplomatic seizure, shots were fired, and 10 of the folks on the aid ships were killed.
That's tragic enough, but let's look at the wider context.
The Turks had "sponsored" the Gaza aid ships, but it was also the Turks who had offered to host/hold the Iranian nuclear material in the recent Iran/Turkey/Brazil proposal to ease pressure on Iran's nuclear program. The Israelis were very unhappy with the Turkey/Iran nuclear offer which was constructed outside the current pressure and negotiations and would have allowed Iran to continue to enrich and protection from much of the proposed verification measures.
I do not believe that the two things are unconnected.
The Israelis were trying to make a hard line point to the Turks in the ship seizure, and things appear to have spun out of control on the ships.
It's this sort of miscalculation that can start wars.
Later: Turkey has symbolically recalled its Ambassador from Israel. (Although you know the US is acting as go between anyhow.)
Sort of Related: The Hamas leader says the US has been making "informal" (ie, not officially recognized) contact with Hamas.
That's tragic enough, but let's look at the wider context.
The Turks had "sponsored" the Gaza aid ships, but it was also the Turks who had offered to host/hold the Iranian nuclear material in the recent Iran/Turkey/Brazil proposal to ease pressure on Iran's nuclear program. The Israelis were very unhappy with the Turkey/Iran nuclear offer which was constructed outside the current pressure and negotiations and would have allowed Iran to continue to enrich and protection from much of the proposed verification measures.
I do not believe that the two things are unconnected.
The Israelis were trying to make a hard line point to the Turks in the ship seizure, and things appear to have spun out of control on the ships.
It's this sort of miscalculation that can start wars.
Later: Turkey has symbolically recalled its Ambassador from Israel. (Although you know the US is acting as go between anyhow.)
Sort of Related: The Hamas leader says the US has been making "informal" (ie, not officially recognized) contact with Hamas.
posted by mikevotes at
6:42 AM
7 Comments:
It won't be easy to put the lid on this one. Another headache for Obama.
By
Anonymous, at 12:37 PM
A big ass headache as the Turks frequently served as go betweens to the Palestinians and their supporters like Egypt.
By
mikevotes, at 12:46 PM
The Turks are also upset because their Iran/Brazil proposal was rejected.
By
Anonymous, at 1:48 PM
How dare you criticize Israel's right to exist!!! Anti-Semite!
By
Shlomo O'Reilly, at 4:15 PM
1. The ship, flying the Turkish flag, was in international waters.
2. Turkey is a member of NATO. Under article 5 of the NATO charter, an attack against one NATO member is considered an attack on NATO and all signatories are obligated join forces and retaliate. Also, some of those ships carried American citizens.
Who do you think our congress and president are going to stand behind in this case?
By
Lew Scannon, at 9:29 PM
Anon, Everyone involved knew that that proposal would be rejected, but it had payoffs for all involved.
Lew, That's a really interesting point about NATO, although I don't believe the charter calls on retaliation does it? Isn't it mutual defense?
By
mikevotes, at 7:38 AM
It's article 5, and has only been invoked once, following September 11, which is why NATO is in Afghanistan.
By
Lew Scannon, at 4:17 PM
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