Posted on 08/17/2011 5:27:17 AM PDT by SJackson
PM reportedly says Israel doesn't plan to apologize to Turkey before publication of Palmer report, which places some responsibility for Gaza flotilla fiasco on Turkey’s shoulders.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu refused requests by US Secretary of State Hilliary Clinton on Tuesday to apologize to Turkey for the deaths of nine IHH activists aboard the Mavi Marmara in May 2010, Army Radio reported on Wednesday.
Netanyahu said that Israel does not plan to apologize to Turkey at the moment because it is still waiting for the publication of the Palmer report, Army Radio said.
The report, whose details have been widely reported, upholds the legality of Israel’s naval blockade of the Gaza Strip, but takes the IDF to task for using disproportionate force in enforcing the blockade.
Turkey is keen to bury the report, because while far from being a pro-Israel document, by upholding the legality of the blockade it places some of the responsibility for the flotilla fiasco on Turkey’s shoulders.
Turkey is demanding Israel apologize for the incident, pay compensation to the families of the victims, and lift the blockade of Gaza.
Israel has so far refused to apologize, although there is discussion about Israel apologizing for “operational mishaps” that led to the loss of lives. Nine Turkish citizens were killed on the Mavi Marmara when some of the passengers on the ship attacked IDF commandos who landed on it to enforce the blockade.
An Israeli refusal to apologize to the Turks will not only result in Turkish wrath, but also US anger, diplomatic officials said, explaining that the US is pressuring Netanyahu to accept a formula that would allow Israeli-Turkish relations to return to semi-normalcy.
The US, these officials said, see Israeli-Turkish cooperation as an important element in the Middle East, and one they are very keen to renew.
According to the officials, the US wants Netanyahu to back a formula that would include the following elements: an apology for “operational mishaps” in the Mavi Marmara incident that resulted in the loss of Turkish lives, a willingness to pay compensation through a fund to be set up by the Turkish government, a Turkish commitment that this ends the story and there will be no legal claims against Israel, the soldiers or officers involved and an agreement to bury the Palmer Commission report.
If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.
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Maybe Barry can apologize right away, he likes apologizing.
Turkey has been radicalized. For many years they were a good friend of the US but I do not think that is still the case. The Obama adminsitration clearly prefers a place like Turkey over a place like Israel, which is not surprising because, as I say, Turkey has been radicalized.
Bibi has nothing to apologize to The One about....
Stand your ground, Bibi.
Good!
When the Armenians get theirs, then the Turks can ask for one.
Like Turkey apologized to Armenia?
Apology from Bibi: I’m sorry Turkish thugs were killed for attacking IDF soldiers who were enforcing a legal blockade. If it happens again, we are sorry, in advance, for sinking the ship.
If you think mass murderers, are reformers Hillary.
Please quit Government and go back to stealing from the Government.
I just wish she would stop her MEDDELING.
Pass the pancake hat - I have no idea what this means
Anything more that “regretting the loss of life” is too damn much.
The Blonde Bomb isn’t good enough
to shine Bibi’s shoes, let alone request
an apology to a guilty nation.
Maybe she’s trying to make some noise
to remind people how “powerful” she is;
in advance of 2012.
Bibi should twitter Hillary a picture of his ass with the words “kiss it”.
Bibi is no chicken. He won’t apologize to Turkey. This is no time to be a dove. And Clinton has nothing to crow about.
I like Bibi more & more every day.
OTOH:
Is Sharon still alive? Last I heard he was in a coma from a stroke & in a care facility.
“According to the officials, the US wants Netanyahu to back a formula that would include the following elements: an apology for “operational mishaps” in the Mavi Marmara incident that resulted in the loss of Turkish lives, a willingness to pay compensation through a fund to be set up by the Turkish government, a Turkish commitment that this ends the story and there will be no legal claims against Israel, the soldiers or officers involved and an agreement to bury the Palmer Commission report.”
A President Paul (as in Ron) would’ve apologized and blamed Israel - he and BHO are simpatico that way. And they would both be wrong (although BHO knows full well what he’s doing).
But WTF - am I missing something here? I watched the Bibi interview on Huckabee and he talked about the Gaza blockade, clearly explaining that there was no impedance whatsoever to shipping in goods of all kinds, food, medicine, anything, in fact, EXCEPT arms or weapons. In that instance, he said, they would never allow those and would necessarily defend themselves (and who can blame them?) in the same way they did in 2010.
How can we tolerate leadership that is so WRONG in its desertion of Israel? But, of course, the whole flotilla situation is, and was, propagandized by the media to prejudice an uninformed public.
Turkey should apologize but they are now Islamists who back terrorists.
Weird, Turkey should be apologizing to Armenia first, andof course israel for their radical views. Once again the religion of feces rears it’s ugly...ummm eh, well...
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