Ataturks statue in Israel

[hitite]

Turkey has always condemned such israeli attacks but this has never changed the realtionship between Israel and Turkey. Turkey-Israel relations are very deep and strong and I am sure there is an under-the-table aggrement that whenever Israel strikes the palestinians or lebanese Turkey will codemn for domestic politics sake but Israel will stay cool about it. Thats what I have been seeing for years.

[ardakilic]

Turkey has always condemned such israeli attacks but this has never changed the realtionship between Israel and Turkey. Turkey-Israel relations are very deep and strong and I am sure there is an under-the-table aggrement that whenever Israel strikes the palestinians or lebanese Turkey will codemn for domestic politics sake but Israel will stay cool about it. Thats what I have been seeing for years.

Since 1948, relations have been always good between Israel and Turkey. But i observe that, starting from 1997, cooperations are being concentrated regardless of Palestinian government's self-defense attacks, regardless of domestic politics... I always wondered why?

[Joseph]

'TURKEY NO LONGER MEDIATING FOR ISRAEL'

press tv
Mon, 29 Dec 2008 13:41:05 GMT

Turkey's Foreign Minister Ali Babacan

Turkey says it will no longer mediate between Tel Aviv and Damascus,
stating that the Israeli attacks on Gaza has made peace 'impossible'.

"The continuation of the talks under these conditions is naturally
impossible," Turkey's Foreign Minister Ali Babacan told reporters
after a meeting with visiting Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Abul Gheit.

"Waging war against Palestinians while negotiating peace with Syria
- these two cannot go together," he added, pointing out that Ankara
was greatly 'disappointed' with Israel's actions.

Babacan's remarks came just days after Israeli Prime Minister Ehud
Olmert visited the country to discuss regional security issues.

On Sunday, a senior Syrian official also said that Israel had 'closed
the door on all activity in the political process' of reaching a
peace deal by massacring over 300 people in Gaza and wounding around
1,500 others.

During the weekend, Israeli fighter jets bombarded at least 30
different locations across Gaza, which included schools, a television
station, a mosque, and a prison.

The deadly attacks that have sparked worldwide protests were also
condemned by Ankara, the key mediator in four rounds of talks held
between Damascus and Tel Aviv over the faith of the Israeli occupied
Golan Heights.

"To go and bomb these defenseless people, and=2 0to openly say that
this operation will be a long-lasting one, that it will be this or
that, to me, is a serious crime against humanity," Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday.

Meanwhile on Monday, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak claimed that
the regime's massive operation was in 'self-defense' and in response
to the rocket fire from the Gaza Strip.

"This operation will expand and deepen as much as needed… We went
to war to deal a heavy blow to Hamas, to change the situation in the
south," he said.

"We do not want to hit children and women and we will not prevent
humanitarian aid" from reaching Gaza, he added.

This is while truck loads of humanitarian aid wait on outside Gaza
border crossings as Israel continues to prevent the passage of vital
supplies into the costal strip.

Just hours after a six-month Egypt-mediated ceasefire with Hamas ended
on December 19, Israeli warplanes flew over Gaza to kick start anew
round of hostilities. During the December 20 operation, a Palestinian
was killed and two others were seriously wounded.

In retaliation to the attack, Hamas launched several homemade rockets
into Israel, none of which led Israeli casualty. However, Israeli
officials used the rocket attacks as an excuse to launch an all-out
attack on the Gaza Strip on December 27.

[Gavur]

Who asked them to mediate,in the first instance.

[Joseph]

Who asked them to mediate,in the first instance.

The Israelis.

[Gavur]

So Erdogan is left the role of a blowheart by his masters.

[Gavur]

And his excuse (need be) to his own people is "The monsterous diaspora is threatining to take down the state", "we need the Jews to prevent this from happenning" in so many words.I didn't know we were THAT powerfull!

[Edoman]

'TURKEY NO LONGER MEDIATING FOR ISRAEL'

press tv
Mon, 29 Dec 2008 13:41:05 GMT

Turkey's Foreign Minister Ali Babacan

Turkey says it will no longer mediate between Tel Aviv and Damascus,
stating that the Israeli attacks on Gaza has made peace 'impossible'.

"The continuation of the talks under these conditions is naturally
impossible," Turkey's Foreign Minister Ali Babacan told reporters
after a meeting with visiting Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Abul Gheit.

"Waging war against Palestinians while negotiating peace with Syria
- these two cannot go together," he added, pointing out that Ankara
was greatly 'disappointed' with Israel's actions.

Babacan's remarks came just days after Israeli Prime Minister Ehud
Olmert visited the country to discuss regional security issues.

On Sunday, a senior Syrian official also said that Israel had 'closed
the door on all activity in the political process' of reaching a
peace deal by massacring over 300 people in Gaza and wounding around
1,500 others.

During the weekend, Israeli fighter jets bombarded at least 30
different locations across Gaza, which included schools, a television
station, a mosque, and a prison.

The deadly attacks that have sparked worldwide protests were also
condemned by Ankara, the key mediator in four rounds of talks held
between Damascus and Tel Aviv over the faith of the Israeli occupied
Golan Heights.

"To go and bomb these defenseless people, and=2 0to openly say that
this operation will be a long-lasting one, that it will be this or
that, to me, is a serious crime against humanity," Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday.

Meanwhile on Monday, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak claimed that
the regime's massive operation was in 'self-defense' and in response
to the rocket fire from the Gaza Strip.

"This operation will expand and deepen as much as needed… We went
to war to deal a heavy blow to Hamas, to change the situation in the
south," he said.

"We do not want to hit children and women and we will not prevent
humanitarian aid" from reaching Gaza, he added.

This is while truck loads of humanitarian aid wait on outside Gaza
border crossings as Israel continues to prevent the passage of vital
supplies into the costal strip.

Just hours after a six-month Egypt-mediated ceasefire with Hamas ended
on December 19, Israeli warplanes flew over Gaza to kick start anew
round of hostilities. During the December 20 operation, a Palestinian
was killed and two others were seriously wounded.

In retaliation to the attack, Hamas launched several homemade rockets
into Israel, none of which led Israeli casualty. However, Israeli
officials used the rocket attacks as an excuse to launch an all-out
attack on the Gaza Strip on December 27.

The Primary intentions of a peace deal between Syria and Israel that has been so called "in negotiation" by Turkey is not peace at all.
Turkey is using its influence as asked by Israel to reduce/remove Iranian partnership with Syria. They have not succeded.

Just like how US helps the Israeli government the Iranian Mullahs are countering them by supporting Hamas through Syria and Hesbollah, even though Iran’s help is not that effective other than financial help and higher range Rockets (Iran denies this) however it does pose a big problem to Israel. This is not to mention Iran’s nuclear ambitions.


No other Muslim country in the world helps the Enemy of their Palestinian Muslim brothers more than Turkey.

While the approval rating of the US and Israel by Turkish people is in the single digit they, at the same time, have shown high approval for relations with Iran. This is a problem for the Turkish Government even though they themselves would love to take the opportunity from both sides (Israel/Iran) but they cannot do this “visibly”. I am sure they are involved to a small degree behind close doors.

I think the Iranian religious influence can be good thing for the Turks. It could bring them closer to understanding who they really are and how they got so lost.

[bell-the-cat]

I think the Iranian religious influence can be good thing for the Turks. It could bring them closer to understanding who they really are and how they got so lost.

I think most Turks, when looking at Iran, just think about how much they have gained and how lucky they are not to be Iranians, and, regardless of their political outlooks, give a little thankyou to Ataturk.

[may]

I think the Iranian religious influence can be good thing for the Turks. It could bring them closer to understanding who they really are and how they got so lost.

Can you elaborate more on this part Edoman? I really wonder who "we" really are and where "we" are lost?

Ok, I stop sarcasm and without further playing the dumb, I will quote from what you wrote as the first post on this thead:

Didn't the Ottomans also kill Jews? I thought so.

I do not mind about how evil you think the Turks are. For the obvious reason, Turks can kill anybody on this planet without mercy, Turks are full of deceit and never to be trusted etc. That's all fine, I am not the one to fight with your own prejudices.

But do you think you really know who Turks are? Not even knowing some major historical facts about Turkey, how can you keep this much self confidence to give advices and determine the best for Turks? Is it again something that "you thought so"?