Turkey Suspends Military Ties With Israel
Turkey warned economic sanctions may follow absent an apology for Israel's raid on Gaza aid ship
Turkey is suspending military ties and defense industry contracts with Israel after their refusal to apologize for the deaths of Turkish activists on board the Gaza aid flotilla last summer. Turkish prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has threatened further sanctions if Israel continues to refuse recognition of wrongdoing.
The announcement comes after Turkey last week expelled Israel’s ambassador and pledged an increased naval presence in the eastern Mediterranean following the release of the United Nations Palmer report, which characterized Israel’s response to the flotilla as “excessive and unreasonable.”
“Trade ties, military ties, defence industry ties, we are completely suspending them,” Erdogan said, although his office later said he was referring to military and defense trade, not overall trade between the two countries, the costs of which the governor of Israel’s central bank warned would be far-reaching for the Jewish state.
Erdogan also promised to help lobby for the Palestinian bid for statehood at the UN this month and said Turkey would escort future aid ships to Gaza.
Erdogan plans to visit Cairo next week and, from there, to make a decision about visiting Gaza. Alon Liel, a former senior Israeli diplomat, said “Israel and the US will do everything possible to stop a visit. [Erdogan] will be received there as a god.” Liel voiced concerns that Erdogan could attempt to persuade Egypt to downgrade its relations with Israel during his visit.
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John
September 6th, 2011 at 4:14 pm
Way to go Turkey! Let Israel feel the consequences of their arrogance and criminal behaviour!
mezenc
September 6th, 2011 at 4:57 pm
Erdogan for King of the World!
John_Muhammad
September 6th, 2011 at 5:18 pm
Turkey should probably suspend ALL trade with Israel and let them stew in their own juices for a while- let them see what it's like to have to be on the receiving end of a 'blockade', even if only from one nation. Perhaps Turkey's example will encourage others to do the same.
Ian
September 6th, 2011 at 6:23 pm
"Alon Liel, a former senior Israeli diplomat, said “Israel and the US will do everything possible to stop a visit. [Erdogan] will be received there as a god.”"
A little too late for that. The Egyptian population will receive Erdogan as a hero and there is very little the US or the Egyptian government can do about it. The arrogance of Israel apparently has no limits.
Jamie N
September 6th, 2011 at 6:26 pm
I so happy Turkey is standing up mto these criminals now the world needs to follow suite.This is something Israel is not used to but is going to happen more and more.America will no longer be the strongest military soon it will be China.With all the power besides mnukular in the west for sop long it has made thing unfair.I'm from Canada but am glad there is a change coming infact its here
liberal
September 6th, 2011 at 6:39 pm
Hmm…this is becoming very interesting, given that there's actual paper behind our alliance with Turkey, and none behind the "special relationship."
dapro
September 6th, 2011 at 6:49 pm
As unapologetic racists, Israelis can never say sorry to "inferior" untermensch.
A Human Being
September 6th, 2011 at 7:07 pm
I really hope Turkey brings this whole thing to a head. This is VERY shrewd politics.
Turkey is a FORMAL member of NATO. Israel is nothing! They have no treaties with the US. If Turkey confronts Israel, the US and NATO will be OBLIGED to aid turkey AGAINST Israel, or otherwise show how unreliable the US are. It would be a diplomatic game of Twister that would end-up forcing the hand of the US to show it's real face.
Are the US going to fight on behalf of the formal NATO ally, or will they side with apartheid. Turkey has the ability to de-mask the US once and for all if they stay the course!!
Please Turkey, don't back down. STAY THE COURSE!
curmudgeonvt
September 6th, 2011 at 9:08 pm
I'm not sure that I would want to get anywhere near where the IDF agents running around the Occupied Territories might be able to reach out and touch me, especially if I was a Turkish Prime Minister who'd just shat upon the Jews – well, their intransigence anyway. On second thought, the IDF has proven that they'll go anywhere for Executive Action targets.
the lion
September 6th, 2011 at 10:22 pm
Now correct me if I got this wrong a Former Israeli Diplomat, Alon Liel has spoken for the United States GOVERNMENT, in this matter,saying “Israel and the US will do everything possible to stop a visit. [Erdogan] will be received there as a god.”
When did Liel become the spokesperson for the United States State Department?
beeboltwu
September 7th, 2011 at 12:30 am
I hope he visits Gazza strip. If the Zionist make the wrong move then they are up to war with the Turks. The Turks are not tamed like the Arabs. Most difinitely the will start real war with Israel and this will be their demise which will make all Arab nation to rise up. The Turks got big volacno inside their inners against Israel. They are waiting for the chance to do something against them.
Walter Cole
September 7th, 2011 at 2:32 am
Yes, this NATO connection is really well said, because if the NATO members did not come to the aid of Turkey after an attack in international waters by Israel, then this would be the end of NATO.
The entire world is behind Turkey right now, even members of the White House who feel so humiliated over Netanyahu’s speech are secretly routing for them.
foodoo
September 7th, 2011 at 3:10 am
Just watch the US media start to "report" all kinds of negative news about Turkey.
Oh the Turks were fine when they were buddy-buddy with our little
Israeli "problem child"….but now that they have shown to be principled they
will be much maligned .
Die Wahrheit zählt
September 7th, 2011 at 4:05 am
Ian,
"apparently". Are you sure about that bit?
Die Wahrheit zählt
September 7th, 2011 at 4:07 am
I would not read too much into this, as Israel now has Greece in it's pocket, much like it has the U.S.
Avi of Mondoweiss
September 7th, 2011 at 5:33 am
"[...] especially if I was a Turkish Prime Minister who'd just shat upon the Jews – well, their intransigence anyway."
———————————————————————————————-
Turkey's actions have nothing to do with Jews or the fact that Israel is 75% Jewish. Either you're an anti-Semite who sees no difference between Jews and Zionists, or you are an agent provocateur trying to paint Turkey and Erdogan as anti-Semites. Either way, you would be wrong.
Yonatan
September 7th, 2011 at 7:11 am
"When did Liel become the spokesperson for the United States State Department? "
Ever since the Israel-Firsters bought the US government.
John Ellis
September 7th, 2011 at 7:42 am
“Erdogan also promised… Turkey would escort future aid ships to Gaza.”
Show me your Erdogan by his overabundance of worthless words — and I will show you the real Erdogan by his inability to take any corrective action.
For the rich ruling class of Turkey wants no harm done to the $3.5 billion yearly trade with Israel, no harm done to its capitalist economy and trade with the capitalist West, and for reasons of profit — would love to see the West bomb Syria and Iran back to the stone age.
curmudgeonvt
September 7th, 2011 at 8:45 am
Perhaps I should have used "Israeli government" instead of Jew – I was being lazy. But the Turks asked for an apology for an unreasonable action and the Israeli government basically told them it ain't gonna happen. As for Erdogan contemplating venturing into the Territories, Israel has proven time and again that they believe they are free to act however they please and there will be no repercussions. I have nothing against Jews – the Israeli government on the other hand…
I apologize for using the word Jew. I sit corrected.
patriothere
September 7th, 2011 at 10:21 am
The US media is already talking about kicking Turkey out of NATO. Wrap your minds around THAT one for a minute or two.
patriothere
September 7th, 2011 at 10:21 am
The US media is already talking about kicking Turkey out of NATO. Wrap your minds around THAT one for a minute or two.
Turkey, STAY the course! I agree. The problem of course is that Israel has been trading and collaborating with Turkey for so long that the cost of alienating Israel will be too much for Turkey. Israel could blackmail turkey, extort turkey, you name it. There are so many backhanded, underhanded tricks that Israel could pull I don't see this lasting. Especially with the media here in America they can spin a tale of Turkey being the devil or something!!! (lol)
At the end of the day, I see Turkey suffering tremendously if they continue this course and we will all be disappointed in what will look like to us, their cowardice.
Ira Epstein.
September 7th, 2011 at 4:23 pm
I thought this was suppose to be antiwar.com, and not a platform to cheerlead for war. Hopefully the issues between Turkey and Israel can be resolved without a war. Do not equate opposing a war against Israel with supporting the Israeli government. That is the same thing the neocons did with respect to Iraq and are attempting to do with respect to Iran. I think some of the people here are so blinded by thier hatred for the Israeli government they are forgetting important facts. One such fact is that in a war even the "victor" loses. For the sake of the Turks (if not the Israelis) everyone should pray that this conflict is resolved peacefully.