Why not a limited apology?
Efraim Cohen explains why even a limited apology to Turkey for the Mavi Marmara incident constitutes a grave danger to Israel (Hat Tip: Joshua I). The problem with the proposed deal between Israel and Turkey is that an Israeli apology could very well exacerbate the rift between the two countries, at the same time causing a worldwide public relations nightmare for Israel.Read the whole thing.
While the apology would refer specifically to "operational errors," the world will not recognize such diplomatic nuances. Instead, Israel will be seen as accepting full responsibility for the deaths of the IHH "activists." The media and UN will be flooded with self-righteous statements of "I told you so," along with renewed allegations of a "brutal response" by Israeli commandos to "peaceful resistance."
An apology will also have far reaching negative ramifications for the Jewish state. It will appear to contradict Israel's repeated assertion that its actions were a necessary response to unprovoked attacks by mercenaries bent on "martyrdom." Israel will find it much more difficult to explain any military action as necessary and justifiable self-defense. From then on, the world will see such claims as self-serving and ultimately unreliable.
Just as problematic, the Israeli government would be abandoning thousands of supporters who relied on Israel's veracity and defended its actions in the face of withering external criticism. These supporters will be left swinging in the air -- much like the Navy commandos who fast-roped from helicopters into the waiting clubs of the armed IHH mercenaries.
For years, Israel has criticized the PA and Hamas for providing financial benefits to terrorists' families. Such payments honor murderers and serve as incentives for others to follow in their footsteps. Just this past week, for example, it was revealed that the PA pays more than $5 million per month, funded by the United States and Europe, in "salaries" to all Palestinians and Israeli-Arabs currently imprisoned in Israel for crimes of terror; How will Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu distinguish the Palestinian payments to terrorists from the "compensation" he is considering paying to the families of those who died on the ship? These payments could be seen as whitewash the IHH actions and benefit the families of would-be murderers.
Finally, an Israeli apology, no matter how limited, will call into question Israel's fundamental claim that the Gaza blockade is necessary. Many more flotillas will then be planned, and "open season" on IDF personnel who try to stop them.
Labels: Gaza blockade, IHH, Mavi Marmara, Turkish obsession with Israel
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 1:15 AM
2 Comments:
And no IDF soldier will bother to go out and enforce the blockade. Why should they when they see their own government abandon their comrades to the enemy?
There is no such thing as a "limited apology." Either Israel is innocent and in the clear or is Israel is guilty and stands convicted by its own self-incrimination of breaking international law.
Its like being half-pregnant. Abandoning national dignity and self-respect won't win over the Turks. The price of an apology is too high to pay.
What could go wrong indeed
NO apology! No way, no how!
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