Israel Matzav

Turkey's 'Plan B'

Turkey has issued ominous threats about implementing a 'Plan B' in the event that Israel does not apologize for its troops defending themselves against Turkish terrorists aboard the Mavi Marmara last year. So what is 'Plan B'? Here's a summary (by the way, as I noted in an earlier post, the release of the Palmer report has been postponed again).

Turkish media circulated details of "Plan B":

1) Temporary diplomatic mission will be withdrawn called off. Diplomatic relations will be cut

After closing its embassy Turkey has in "Israel" in Tel Aviv a temporary diplomatic mission of Turkey. There is a question of calling off a representative Tolga Uncu. If "Israel" does not apologize Uncu will be called off and no one will be appointed to replace him. Diplomatic relations will be reduced to zero.

2) "Israeli" ambassador will not be granted a visa to Turkey

In September expires term of office of "Israel" ambassador in Turkey Gabby Levin. Turkey will not issue to the new ambassador of "Israel" a visa.

3) Erdogan will visit Gaza

If there is no apology comes, Erdogan will visit the Gaza Strip in September.

4) Support will be granted those who are going to sue "Israel"

Victims of Mavi Marmara will sue the Zionist regime. Turkish Foreign Ministry will legally support this step. "Israel" will be weakened financially and morally.

5) Palestine will be given full support

Turkey will lobby membership of Palestine in the UN. And "Israel" will remain isolated at all international platforms.

6) Military cooperation will end

Turkey annually invited "Israel" to military exercises. After that Turkey will not invite "Israel" to any doctrines, military cooperation will end. Joint projects in the defense industry will not be carried out.

7) Trade sanctions

Turkey will limit economic relations with "Israel", reduce investment in "Israel." Cultural and social ties would be kept to a minimum.

Diplomatic relations are essentially non-existent today. If Turkey wants to cut them completely, that's their prerogative (I suspect that the US might have something to say about that). If Erdogan wants to visit Gaza, and Egypt agrees, that's their prerogative. But if he tries to visit by sea landing (the only real threat he has), I'm sure that the Palmer Commission report says that Israel's blockade is justified. Erdogan should be treated no differently than any other hostile force. Trying to breach the blockade is an act of war whether Erdogan is on the boat or whether Abu Bluff or Khaled Meshaal are on the boat.

Support is going to be granted to those who want to sue Israel whether or not there is an apology. Where do they think they will sue us? Does Turkey think that the European court system is going to put itself on the line for them? Let's say I have my doubts. There's no love for Turkey in Europe. I suppose it's possible, but it's less than a sure thing.

They already give 'Palestine' full support. What more could they do short of going to war with us? Or perhaps, that's what they have in mind.

There has been no military cooperation with Turkey since 2008. The least three years' exercises have been canceled because Turkey would not participate with Israel. Nothing new there.

As to trade sanctions, go right ahead. Do I need to play the "how to boycott Israel" video again? But please return our UAV's first. We put self-destruct mechanisms in them anyway, and if you don't return them, we will use those mechanisms.

And by the way, what's this crap of putting Israel in quotes? We're a member state of the UN, unlike 'Palestine.'

Labels: Free Gaza, Mavi Marmara, outrageous apologies, Turkish obsession with Israel

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 1:34 PM