Turkish PM Erdogan calls on world to punish Israel over deadly attack

[FarCenter]

Tuesday, June 1, 2010
ANKARA - Hürriyet Daily News

Calling on both the international community and Israel citizens to respond to the ‘bloody massacre’ against a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdoğan says the event is ‘a turning point in history.’ In a emotional speech to Parliament, Erdoğan reiterates his support for Palestinians, but tempers his harsh words against Israel by saying that protests should not be extended to attacking Jewish citizens of Turkey.

Israeli government officials responsible for a fatal assault Monday on an aid convoy “must be absolutely punished by all means,” a deeply emotional and visibly angry Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Tuesday.

Taking uncommon pains to distinguish Israel’s government from its citizens, Erdoğan drew a sharp bead on the country’s decision-makers in a well-prepared speech aimed as much at a Palestinian audience as a domestic and international one.

“Today is a turning point in history. Nothing will be same again,” Erdoğan told his party’s lawmakers hours after a 16-hour flight from Chile. The prime minister cut his trip short following Israel’s deadly attack on the humanitarian boats early Monday.

Calling the Israeli raid on the Gaza-bound aid flotilla a “bloody massacre,” Erdoğan warned Israel not to test his country’s patience, saying, “Turkey’s hostility was as strong as its friendship is valuable.”

<SNIP>http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=erdogan-speaks-2010-06-01

[Catherina]

1. From another article

Turkey launches long-term diplomatic war against IsraelFont Size: Larger|Smaller

Tuesday, June 1, 2010


...


This government has become the main source of trouble in the region, Erdoğan indicated in his speech, reflecting the prime and foreign ministers’ previous decisions to not hold any high-level meetings with the current Israeli leadership. With reciprocal accusations from both sides since the famous Davos spat making it impossible to reduce tension, the only possibility for reconciliation between Ankara and Tel Aviv seems to be a change of administration in Israel.

Erdoğan made it clear that Turkey has no problem with either the Israeli people or the Israeli state, calling on the country’s citizens to stand up against the Netanyahu-Lieberman government, which he said hurts the interests of the Israeli people.

Full isolation of this government by the international community, backed by strong internal pressure, would surely start a process of removing the current Israeli leadership from power. This, of course, cannot be achieved solely by Turkey. Strong international determination in the international community is required, and Turkey will therefore try to gain the backing of the United Nations, NATO and other respectable international organizations. But the support of the United States is key.

...

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=turkey-launches-a-long-time-diplomatic-war-against-israel-2010-06-01

[David__77]

2. Sounds fairly measured, moderate.

It is good that he made efforts to counter anti-semitism in his comments and to highlight the distinction between Israeli civilians and their state authorities. I must admit I'm as interested in this event as any international event that has occurred in over three years.

[Fozzledick]

3. Erdogan is running for re-election, and he's behind in the polls

so he committed an act of war against Israel to deliberately provoke an incident to stir up anti-Semitism inside Turkey to exploit for his campaign.

His words are disingenuous window-dressing while he collaborates with Iran's escalating proxy war against Israel.

[Catherina]

4. How do you come up with this disingenuous post?

committed an act of war against Israel

to deliberately provoke an incident

to stir up anti-Semitism inside Turkey

to exploit for his campaign.




Not even you can believe that. Erdogan has been angry at Israel over Gaza for a long time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRB1vQVqdQA

[Fozzledick]

6. Running a blockade is an act of war

This was a deliberate provocation. Erdogan's self-serving motives are transparent.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

7. Blockading is an act of war. Netanyahu's self serving motives are transparant.

[Fozzledick]

8. Hamas declared war against Israel. The blockade is a defensive response.

Turkey's intrusion into the blockade zone is an unprovoked assault.

[Dutch]

11. Yup, Erdogan is a typical religious-right scumbag, on a par with Sarah Palin.

Flushing Turkey's traditionally excellent relations with Israel has been a ploy to keep the more knuckle-dragging sections of his base (the ones burning flags) on board before the elections.

[Fumesucker]

12. Then Erdogan and Netanyahu are pretty much birds of a feather..

They deserve each other, IMO.

[Kalyke]

13. And Bibi NUTenYAHOO isn't?

One man's war hero is another man's terrorist.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. Good. Israel and the US shouldn't be allowed to sweep the murders under the rug.

[Poll_Blind]

9. Transcript of a 2 minute portion of Turkish PM's speech to Turkish Parliament:

Translated by CNNTurk, typed in by me. You can watch the video HERE. After the incident the Turkish PM, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, immediately returned from a visit to Chile, taking a 16-hour direct flight back to Turkey to address Parliament.

Transcript follows:

Israel should lift the inhuman embargo on Gaza immediately.

Attacking a humanitarian aid ship with guns, massacring the innocent, treating civilians like terrorist shows that they know no boundaries.

From a government that uses lying as a state policy and that is not shamed of its crimes.

The international community should not ask for an inquiry but should make a detailed inquiry and punish them lawfully.

Turkey will never give up this issue.

Turkey is not a young and rootless country.

No one should dare to test Turkey's patience.

(applause by Parliament)

Turkey's hostility is as strong as its friendship.

Now it is obvious that Israel is a source of trouble, spreading instability across the region.

Those were ships of mercy.

And the conscience of humanity was their load.

Acting in the open sea, on international waters.

Pouring blood and massacring is obviously state terrorism.

Now they deny it. They say they were fired at.

(begins tugging his lapels as if shaking something off)

We are sick of your lies.

(Applause from Parliament)

June 01, 2010

PB

[Fozzledick]

10. Erdogan's hypocrisy knows no bounds

He sent boatloads of "useful idiots" along with a squad of thugs on a "martyrdom operation" to produce a bloody incident for his own political exploitation.

[Poll_Blind]

14. I would respond to that comment if I could only make sense of it.

:shrug:

PB