Turkey insists on apology to normalize Israel ties

[oberliner]

(Reuters) - Turkey's prime minister said on Friday Israel must apologize for a bloody raid on a Turkish ship bound for Gaza last year and lift its blockade of the territory if it wants to normalize ties, but Israel rejected the call.

In a speech to parliament ahead of the expected release of a U.N. report on the raid, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan gave no sign of softening despite reports in recent weeks that the two sides have been holding secret talks to mend fences.

Ankara has repeatedly demanded Israel apologize and pay compensation for the killing of nine pro-Palestinian Turkish activists when Israeli marines seized the Mavi Marmara ship heading to the Gaza Strip last year.

"Normalization of relations between the two countries is unthinkable unless Israel apologizes for this illegal act which is against all international law and values, pays compensation to the relatives of those who lost their lives in this atrocious event and lifts the embargo on Gaza," Erdogan said.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/08/us-turkey-israel-erdogan-idUSTRE7675ON20110708

[hack89]

1. Greece is Israel's new buddy

I don't think an apology will be forthcoming.

[King_David]

2. Never apologize for self defense

[classysassy]

3. And never,never apologize

for crimes against humanity.

[King_David]

4. What you talking about?

Elaborate ,because I for one, do not understand your post.

[Violet_Crumble]

5. She's talking about you calling the killing by Israel of civilians 'self defence' n/t

[King_David]

6. Yep, it is what it is

They were out breaking the law with weapons
singing Jew Hating songs, itching for a fight
and lusting for blood .

It sure was not a humanitarian mission nor a
pleasure cruise they were on.

[Violet_Crumble]

7. Even if all that was true, how does it justify killing people? n/t

[hack89]

8. No one was killed on the ships that obeyed international law

and allowed the IDF to board for inspection. On those ships where militants attacked the IDF there were deaths. Self defense is always justification.

[Violet_Crumble]

14. Even if they weren't obeying international law...

...and that's a big if, as I find it every bit just as likely that the commandos who raided the ships were the ones violating international law, that's no justification to kill people. When it comes to self-defence, much of the time it's all in the eye of the beholder, and at times used to defend atrocities. And if you think claiming self-defence is justification to kill people, do you think that applies to the Palestinians at all?

It gets a bit tiring to see heavily armed and supposedly well aimed troops portrayed as though they're innocent unarmed officials. They're supposedly trained in using non-lethal means to overpower people, but don't appear to have bothered with that option. If the boot was on the other foot and the Palestinians had done that, I'd feel exactly the same as I do about this, btw...

[hack89]

15. International law is clearly on the side of the IDF

the IDF did act with restraint and used non lethal methods on some of the ships - and no one was hurt. Those ships where the IDF was violently attacked there were deaths. Seems simple to me.

[oberliner]

9. I think it will

Or maybe some kind of compromise - expression of regret for loss of life.

I think both sides would like to see this relationship repaired.

[hack89]

10. On second thought I agree with you - dealing with Syria requires cooperation. nt

[bemildred]

12. I agree, in any case, neither will go out of their way to make things worse.

However other parties may take a hand, it's not just between the two.

[bemildred]

11. Things are getting interesting.

Greece and Turkey have been on the outs since WWI, and have large, contentious issues between them, i.e. Cyprus. Since Israel and Turkey have become somewhat alienated, it is no particular surprise to see Greece thinking Israel is worth making up with, but I wouldn't put much weight on it, yet anyway.

Both Greece and Turkey are in NATO. The "Arab Spring" is raging all around. Ask yourself whether you think that genie (the "Arab Spring") is going to get stuffed back in the bottle? I think not, the examples of Tunisia and Egypt are like candles in the darkness, and they will be imitated for a long time. The current government of Syria has lost all legitimacy, and however long it may hang on, however many of its own citizens it harms or kills, it will never be a force to be reckoned with again. I must say I'm disappointed there, Little Assad had handled things fairly well, lasted longer than many expected, not been as big of an asshole as his Dad, now all that is gone.

One can feel the ground shifting. Turkey is assertive and on the way up, Greece is on the way down and it's government has a questionable future. I won't comment on Israel or the USA, it just upsets people. And then there is the various Palestinian parties, governments, and institutions, the uncertain future of the EU, Russia, India and China, and the no-doubt endless bickering which will ensue over hydrocarbon and water rights.

Consider where we are now and where we were ten or eleven years ago, it's not a pretty picture.

[azurnoir]

13. well it is indeed a 'new world order' albeit

I am not sure it is the one the ones who coined the phrase had in mind