Israeli officials on Turkey: Enough is enough
On Wednesday night I reported that a Turkish Deputy Prime Minister had stated that the catch in negotiations between Israel and Turkey was not over money, but rather over an
Israeli admission of culpability. Several 'Israeli officials' have now responded,
blasting the Turks for abandoning a 'carefully crafted' formula (Hat Tip:
Joshua I).
One Israeli official said that Arinc's comments reveal that Ankara is not genuinely interested in settling the dispute over the Mavi Marmara
with Israel, but rather the aim is to humiliate Jerusalem. "All of a
sudden he says the money is not the issue. Indeed, they want to bring us
to our knees and read the text that they dictate to us."
The
official said that the formula for the apology was very carefully
crafted, so as not to admit any Israeli legal culpability. Now, he said,
this is no longer enough for the Turks. Regarding lifting the blockade
on Gaza, Israel has made clear that it has no intention of doing so, and
that it will ease restrictions there to the degree that the rocket and
missile fire from the area onto Israel stops.
One senior Israeli
official, when asked several weeks ago about the Turks apparent adding
on conditions before returning their ambassador to Israel, replied that
"enough is enough," implying that Israel did what it felt it had to do
to try and improve the ties with Turkey, but would go no further.
One
Israeli official said Thursday that while there was US pressure in the
past on Israel to make gestures to to reconcile with Turkey, there is
currently no such demands. Netanyahu did what the Americans expected him
to do, the official said, and from their standpoint this whole episode
should now be over.
Come on. You didn't really believe Turkey wanted to end the fight, did you? The real question is whether the Obama administration is going to pressure Israel to do even more. I'd bet on it.
Labels: Barack Hussein Obama, Binyamin Netanyahu, Bulent Arnc, Mavi Marmara, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish obsession with Israel
Turkey refuses to help Syrian opposition
The Turks may say that they want Assad out, but they have
turned down a request for help from the Syrian opposition (Hat Tip:
Joshua I).
“We won't send soldiers [to Syria], won't intervene and won't allow and create conditions for others to intervene,” Bülent Arınç, Turkey's deputy prime minister told a local TV station in Bursa. Arınç, who is also the government's spokesman, said any foreign intervention will create divisions not only in Syria but across the region as well. He added that incidents in Syria are developing along ethnic lines and sectarianism is also playing a role.
Arınç's remarks came at a time when Syria's armed opposition groups asked Turkey to create a buffer zone to shelter anti-regime fighters. Lt. Salem Odeh, a defector from Latakia, told Reuters this week that historic and religious ties with Turkey that go back to the Ottoman Empire mean Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's opponents -- generally wary of outside interference -- would accept a Turkish military role.
“I just hope there will be a Turkish military intervention. It's better, and they have longstanding blood ties from old times, and they are closer to the East than the West,” he added.
Citing Israeli security officials, Israeli daily Haaretz reported on Thursday that they believe Turkey is moving toward a military intervention in Syria, in order to create a secure buffer zone for opposition activists. Accordingly, Turkey is expected to set up secure buffer zones on its border with Syria that would allow armed opposition groups to organize against the Syrian regime from bases protected by the Turkish military, according to Haaretz.
However, Arınç categorically ruled out any discussion among government circles that Turkey is considering military intervention. “There is absolutely no such thing,” he underlined. “Some Turkish politicians and some countries are saying Turkey will intervene in Syria. This is totally wrong. This is impossible, we don't think of it.”
Is that the end of the second coming of the Ottoman Empire? Hmmm.
Labels: Bashar al-Assad, Bulent Arnc, Syrian uprising, Turkey
Turkey vetoes NATO action in Libya
Turkey has vetoed NATO's participation in establishing a no-fly zone in Libya, they have made it clear that they are
not happy with the operation (Hat Tip:
Joshua I). The countries that are acting there are acting individually.
Turkish State Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arınç said that Turkey did not join the international operation against Libya.
When asked by journalists whether Turkey would take part in the air strike against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's forces, Arınç said, "the prime minister and the foreign minister have already indicated earlier that Turkey did not join the operation. A crisis desk has been established at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to follow developments."
"We hope that situation will back to normal in Libya as soon as possible," he told reporters.
"There are several countries which came into prominence in implementing the UN resolution. Turkey fulfils its responsibilities. We wish that the United Nations had made such resolutions and countries had taken action in the face of incidents in Gaza, Palestine and the other regions," he concluded.
Israel Radio reported at 5:00 am that Turkey has vetoed NATO participation in the Libyan action - the countries that are acting there are doing so individually. What could go wrong?
Labels: Bulent Arnc, Libyan no-fly zone, NATO, Turkey, Turkish obsession with Israel
