News

If there was

any possibility of Israeli attack against Iran, this news along with news on Israeli arms sale retaliation would put an end to all speculations (I personally never believed the Israeli constant threats against Iran).

Israel is most likely in pain as to how to deal with Turkey now. It will be very interesting to watch Israeli steps walking on a very tight rope of Turkish diplomacy. Israel can afford a lot of Huff and Puff against Iran and its Arab neighbors but Turkey is a whole different challenge and rest assured we will see more restraining relations as long Israel practices state terrorism and unrealistic peace demands with Palestinians.

Is Turkey Trying to 'Wake Up' Israel?

Turkey is actually doing it's ally Israel a very big favor. You have to be a good friend to grab your friend by the shoulders and say “No, You can't do that!”  It's hard to say these things softly but clearly. They are trying. Too bad the US cannot be such a good friend to Israel. People (and nations) with integrity sometimes lose friends.

Israel's approach to solving problems is massive overreaction of the 100 to 1 variety,  e.g., 1400 palestinians killed as opposed to 14 israelis in Operation Cast Lead (translation: throw everything you've got at them!).  In the case of Gaza, which is an occupied territory still,  the occupiers simply having  withdrawn to attempt to avoid responsibility, leaving the people to fend for themselves penned in and cut off from the outside world, like a ghetto under seige.  From a humanitarian standard, it is totally unacceptable for civilized people to treat other people like this; it is not a question of Israel and the potential partners (most of whom they have assassinated) being able to come to a reasonable accommodation, it is the desire of the Israelis to impose their own solution on the matter.  

In my opinion Turkey is taking a major step in being willing to speak truth to power, telling Israel they are unwilling to treat Israel as a state worthy of normal considerations until Israel rejoins the family of nations, and abides by standards of decency and respectfulness towards others, especially the captive Palestinians.  It's reasonable for Turkey to be concerned Israel, if allowed to continue to 'get away' with dealing with others by threat, pre-emptive strikes (as it has done so far with Iraq, Lebanon and Syria), and continual attempts at intimidation, will continue to deal with it's neighbors in this manner.  Turkey was right to say NO to Israel's participation in the NATO exercise. Israel is not a member of NATO, but Turkey is. Under these circumstances, what kind of message would be transmitted to Tehran to have Turkish and Israeli warplanes participating in war games originating on Turkish territory and flying together in Turkish airspace? It was only a few months ago, in response to one of these attempts at intimidating Iran that Turkey had to make it known they would not allow Israel to use Turkish air space to fly over in order to bomb Iran's legal nuclear sites. Did anyone at NATO consider this? 

Turkey has had good relations with Israel,  and I'm sure would like to continue a mutually profitable relationship with them. But Turkey is in an interesting 'middle' position, also interested in bettering its relationships with Iran, the Gulf States, etc. Israel is in a precipitous decline, like a pilot in a storm who's lost his bearings and doesn't realize he's in a nose dive.  The world sees a nation which can best be personified by the sad and infamous award-winning political cartoon by Dave Brown (UK), well known for his cartoon of former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon as a "Monster eating Palestinian babies" in a paraphrase on Saturn Devouring His Son, a grotesque painting done by Francisco de Goya in 1819. For this cartoon, Brown won the 2003 Political Cartoon of the Year award. 

(Similar to comment posted on hurriyatdailynews.com) 

Dame Turka garm

Mehrdad