Israel Today reports that the Obama Administration has demanded that Israel apologize to Turkey for last Summer’s raid on the Mavi Marmara, a Turkish-flagged ship leading a “Freedom Flotilla” of “peace activists,” which attempted to break the blockade on the Terrortory of Hamastan (a.k.a. Gaza).
This motley crew of Hamasophiles included not only the IHH, a group that apparently has ties both to Turkey’s ruling AKP political party and Al-Qaeda, but was also part of a movement aided by Obama allies such as Code Pink and his friendly neighborhood (retired) terrorists, Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn.
Islamist Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a former mayor of Constantinople Istanbul oft heard raging against conquest and occupation, called the operation an act of piracy. While he as Prime Minister arguably committed an act of war by encouraging a ship flying his nation’s flag to violate territory controlled by another, Erdogan’s self-righteous chutzpah was undiminished, and, like a man who kills his parents and pleads for mercy because he is an orphan, Erdogan demanded an apology and compensation from Israel for the “victims'” families.
Now, Obama is demanding that Israel apologize to Turkey, because our interests are being harmed by deteriorating relations between Israel and Turkey. They are, but because Turkey has changed, not because Israel has. The rise of Erdogan’s Islamist APK party, aided by Obama-and-EU-backed “reforms” that weakened the military’s role in safeguarding their country’s secular character, has led Turkey steadily down an anti-Israel path from the time he was first elected in 2002. However, in classic Obama fashion, the president fails to recognize the culpability of the Islamist aggressors. Rather, he blames those who dare assert their rights against them, believing that the path to peace is through obeisance and surrender.
To recap, here is what Obama claims Israel must apologize for:
On May 30, 2010,the Mavi Marmara was stopped by the Israeli navy attempting to violate the Gaza blockade. It contained no actual humanitarian aid, and was sent as part of a tactic to secure unrestricted supply lines to Hamastan in the future. (Alas, the revolution in Egypt very well might have that effect anyway)
Ordinarily, Israel escorts such ships into an Israeli port, checks for contraband, offloads aid, and delivers it to Gaza by truck. When Israel’s navy stopped and boarded the ship for inspection, as they had every right to according to international law, they were ambushed by armed terrorist supporters. The soldiers, under orders not to use lethal force unless their lives were threatened, were armed only with non-lethal weapons and sidearms. An IDF patrol boat caught the brutal attack on video, and the ship’s own security cameras document the preparation of the ambush.
- Some peaceful protesting by the Freedom Flotilla.
Some of these individuals, armed with pipes, knives, axes, chains, slingshots, and pistols taken from some of the first soldiers to board, came in search of martyrdom. For instance, this man, disappointed at his failure to die during two previous attempts, told a journalist he hopes to finally achieve martyrdom this time out. Others, like this charming individual pictured below, were also far from peaceful.
- Nothing says “peaceful protest” like a big, stabby, knife.
Ultimately, the boarding party was forced to open fire, with the last boarder, known only as St-Sgt. S, killing six and stabilizing the situation after the many of his comrades had been wounded. Ultimately, nine from the flotilla were killed.
Israel later released the ship back to Turkey, and Sefic Dinc, a particularly ethical Turkish journalist who was aboard the Mavi Marmara to cover its exploits, wrote a book largely confirming that Israel’s account of the incident was true.
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Comments
I hope Netanyahou tells him to take a hike. If the situation wasn’t so tragic it would be a comedy. Skippy, as always, is on the wrong side of the opinion of the American people. Every thing he does and says shows how he was never taught basic American traditions. And, after some of the things he has said, one wonders if he was educated at all.
The best thing to do, IMHO, is ignore this ridiculous ultimatum/threat. There is no power in Washington. No leadership. No coherent foreign policy. The threat is empty.
This embarrassing, weak Administration has already publicly chastised, denounced, and criticized Israel – just short of publicly revoking US support – which exposes their weakness even more. They would NEVER renounce support of Israel coming into a presidential election.
Remember Obama and Hillary reassuring the public of their unequivocal, unwavering support for Israel in 2008? Yeah, they know they are weak. And, frankly, they know they can’t erode the Jewish-American vote any more than they have already. Paper tigers.
At most, if asked, Bibi would do well to re-state the law, the Mavi Maramara’s breach of the blockade and international law; IMHO, of course.
Again, to address this foolishness would give it merit, credibility. Bibi is too smart, too good a leader to bite.
Don’t take the bait.
Don’t worry, Bibi didn’t take the bait 🙂
http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?ID=234150&R=R1
In a Warning to America in Nashville on May 12 Geert Wilders of The Netherlands said: If Israel falls, we all fall. We are all Israel. Israel is fighting our fight. Yet, President Obama acts to undermine and weaken Israel at every turn. why?
Here’s an except of Wilders’ speech.
“Rivers of tears are flowing from the Middle East, where there is only one safe haven for Christians. You know where that is. The only place in the Middle East where Christians are safe is Israel.
That is why Israel deserves our support. Israel is a safe haven for everyone, whatever their belief and opinions. Israel is a beacon of light in a region of total darkness. Israel is fighting our fight.
The jihad against Israel is a jihad against all of us. If Israel falls, we, too, will feel the consequences. If Jerusalem falls, Athens, Rome, Amsterdam and Nashville will fall. Therefore, we all are Israel. We should always support Israel!”
http://www.geertwilders.nl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1750&Itemid=1
What can one expect when the NYT’s reporter writes that Israel “Claims” that its soldiers were attacked.
http://www.camera.org/index.asp?x_context=2&x_outlet=35&x_article=2100
“New York Times Presents Attack on Soldiers by Mavi Marmara Activists as Israeli Claim”
Who is the Whitehouse to believe? The Jews?
“Islamist Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, oft heard raging against conquest and occupation from his lofty perch in
ConstantinopleIstanbul…”The Turkish government is based in Ankara, not Istanbul.
Unless you’re talking about a “lofty perch” other than his government role…
Erdogan is an Istanbul native and former Mayor of Istanbul.
Plus, “It’s Istanbul not Constantinople” always runs through my head when ever Turkey is discussed.
Israel: “Excuuuuse us for living!!”