This is just another example in the continuing saga of Erdogan trying to remake himself and Turkey into an Islamic Theocracy. We all knew what he was up to when he took office, the world looked the other way when he had over 50 senior military officers arrested claiming they planned a coup d'etat, and Israel simply gave Erdogan a diplomatic pat on the head when he made blatant anti-Israel gestures to gain popular support.
This time, as if to say, "I really mean it! I am trying to clearly make you see I am a big man!!" Erdrogan is sending ships to "challenge" (read "harass the Israeli Navy") the "blockade" (read "Israel's attempt to ban on weapons importation to terrorist crazies") of Gaza.
What Erdogan wants, is to "accidentally" get himself into a skirmish with Israel so that he can claim legitimate jihad status with the rest of the Islamic crazies in the world. Erdogan can't declare war on Israel because most of Turkey is secular, the military is secular, and such a move would probably push the Turkish people just a little too far, and he could lose his seat (literally, and figuratively).
So, he wants to try to push Israel into a confrontation . . .
where he can claim that the Israelis were the ones who were aggressive and pushed him.
where he can claim that the Israelis were the ones who were aggressive and pushed him.
It is a win-win for Erdogan. If the Israeli Navy does nothing, he wins because he has "proven Israel is afraid of Turkey's mighty military strength!" If the Israeli Navy shows aggression, he can get the skirmish he so desperately wants.
What Erdogan doesn't want and can't afford right now is a war with Israel, but he his betting that Israel will not see this little farce as an "act of war." Even though, technically, it is an act of war.
So, again, Israel stands alone, like the hall monitor beset upon by bullies, harassed by every little tin-pot dictator jihandist wanna-be who pines to make himself a name among his blood-soaked snarkey brothers.
And, again, Israel will probably either ignore or politely repel the "Turkish invasion."
But then, again, maybe Israel has had just about enough of Erdogan.
I guess we will see next week!
M
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Turkey to Challenge Israel, Support Hamas
by Maayana Miskin
by Maayana Miskin
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/136963
Turkey is planning a gesture that will challenge Israel and provide support to Gaza's Hamas leaders next month. A flotilla of ships funded by Turkey will approach Gaza in May, in an attempt to challenge Israeli control at sea - or, as organizers put it, “break Israel's illegal blockade on Gaza.”
While residents of Gaza have access to the sea, the Israel Navy prevents travel by sea between Gaza and surrounding countries, in an attempt to prevent weapons smuggling. Gaza terrorists have previously used incoming ships to smuggle arms, and have used the sea to transport bombs to the coast of southern Israel.
The ships are sponsored by the Turkish group IHH (Insani Yardim Vakfi), which receives government support. IHH also held a massive fundraiser to collect the more than $2 million it spent on the boats.
The IHH group will be joined by ships from Britain, Greece, and Ireland in the attempt to break Israel's control at sea. The delegation will include members of parliament and journalists, organizers said.
The flotilla follows previous such missions in challenging Israel's ban on international travel to and from Gaza, as part of a campaign dubbed “Free Gaza” by its organizers. The latest group of ships will bring several hundred passengers and 5,000 tons of cargo, including humanitarian supplies, cement, and building materials.
The decision to bring cement is another challenge to Israeli policy in Gaza. Israel allows humanitarian aid through its border with Gaza, but allows cement and metal pipes to enter the area only for use in specific projects, in coordination with international aid groups. Israeli defense experts worry that if Hamas were allowed to import cement and pipes freely, it would use them to build bunkers and rockets as it has done in the past.
A spokesman for the government-backed IHH said the project would serve to “wake the world's consciousness about the crimes committee against Palestinians.”
IHH organizers said they see several possible outcomes to their venture: either Israel will allow them to land in Gaza, giving them a PR victory, or Israel will prevent them from reaching Gaza by stopping the ships or seizing their cargo, thus subjecting itself to international condemnation. Another scenario is that Israel's navy might fire on the ships, which could possibly be considered a declaration of war on the ships' countries.
Ties between Israel and Turkey have been strained since early 2009, when Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other senior leaders harshly condemned Israel for its counterterrorism operations in Gaza. Erdogan publicly snubbed President Shimon Peres, Turkey later held a joint military exercise with Syria, and cancelled Israel's participation in a scheduled military exercise.
In 2010, Turkish television aired a virulently anti-Israel drama that depicts Israel kidnapping babies and murdering innocent Arabs. (IsraelNationalNews.com)
I' m turkish and i can say that the best word is dictator for Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. They want to make Turkey like iran. However, there is new hope at turkey. the hope's name is Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, He's new president of the secular wing with many people's support. We and Israelies are brothers. Israel helped my mother's friend who lost her leg at earthquake. the source of argument is turkish government, too many people hate this government here. You have rights to hate him.
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